GEORGExJTRRISON  STANNARD.  BVT.  MAJOR  GENERAL,  U.S.V 


Engraved  ezsresslr  foi  B  icleliai's  History-  of 


£ng  f  by  EHalpin  £vw  a  Plwh.  tj~  Sty  les . 


Published  by  JD.O.  B.  Bactelder. 
ITEW  TO  at . 


VERMONT 


GREAT    REBELLION 


CONTAINING 


HISTORICAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  ETC. 


BY 

:MLA.J.  OTIS  in. 


CLAREMONT,  N.H.: 
TRACY,    CHASE    AND    COMPANY. 

18G9. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18G9,  by 

OTIS    F.    R.  WAITE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Vermont. 


Stereotyped  at  the  Boston  Stereotype  Foundry, 
19  Spring  Lane. 


PRINTED  AND  BOUND  BY 
CLAREMONT  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. 


TO   THE 

WIVES,   MOTHERS    AND    SISTERS 

OF  THE 

BRAVE   OFFICERS    AND   MEN 
WHO     WERE     IN     THE     WAR     OF    THE     REBELLION 

FKOM  THE 

STATE  OF  VERMONT 

THIS   BOOK   IS   REVERENTLY   INSCRIBED, 
BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


A  POPULAR  writer  has  said,  "  Not  a  day  passes  over  the  earth 
but  men  and  women  of  no  note  do  great  deeds,  speak  great 
words,  and  suffer  noble  sorrows.  Of  these  obscure  heroes,  phi 
losophers  and  martyrs,  the  greater  part  will  never  be  known  till 
the  hour  when  many  that  were  great  shall  be  small,  and  the 
small  great;  but  of  others,  the  world's  knowledge  maybe  said 
to  sleep ;  their  lives  and  characters  lie  hidden  from  nations  in 
the  annals  that  record  them." 

In  presenting  to  the  public  a  book  of  this  size,  it  would  be 
but  folly  to  claim  that  it  gives  anything  like  a  full  history  of 
the  noble  and  self-sacrificing  acts  and  gallant  conduct  of  the 
Vermont  troops,  during  the  four  years  that  they  were  engaged 
in  the  War  of  the  Eebellion.  Many  of  their  most  noteworthy 
deeds  will  never  have  a  public  record.  They  must  forever  re 
main  the  sacred  property  of  those  who  enacted  them.  Hundreds 
of  noble  men,  entitled  to  the  highest  meed  of  praise,  and  the 
greatest  gratitude  of  their  fellow-statesmen,  will  be  counted  with 
the  unnumbered  host  whose  unnoticed  sufferings  and  toils,  in 
field  and  camp,  form  always  the  material  out  of  which  military 
glory  comes  to  the  few. 

The  author,  in  preparing  this  work,  has  aimed  to  convey  an 
idea  of  the  camp,  garrison  and  picket  duty  performed,  and  the 

(v) 


6  PREFACE. 

battles  fought,  by  the  several  regiments  and  companies  which 
went  to  the  field  from  Vermont.  To  do  this  he  has  availed 
himself  freely  of  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General's  records 
and  reports,  covering  the  period  of  the  war,  —  without  which 
an  attempt  to  prepare  a  book  like  this  must  have,  proved  abor 
tive. 

Biographical  notices  are  given  of  a  few  only  of  the  many  de 
serving  men  who  took  prominent  parts  in  the  great  tragic  drama 
put  upon  the  stage  by  the  deluded  people  of  a  section  of  the 
country ;  while  there  remain  hundreds,  and  perhaps  thousands, 
entitled  to  the  same  especial  consideration,  whose  record  could 
not  be  obtained  by  ordinary  means. 

The  book  is  submitted  with  the  hope  that  the  veil  of  charity 
will  be  thrown  over  its  short-comings  and  imperfections. 

O.  P.  E.  W. 
June,  1869.  * 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

THE  REBELLION, .     .  9 

ACTION   OF  VERMONT, 56 

VERMONT   TROOPS, 94 

VERMONT  BRIGADE, 116 

SECOND   VERMONT   BRIGADE, 216 

REGIMENTS.— First, 58,  106 

Second, 61,  117 

Third, 62,  118 

Fourth, 64,  118 

Fifth, 65,  118 

Sixth, 67,  119 

Seventh, 68,  196 

Eighth, \    .     .  70,  203 

Ninth, 75,  205 

Tenth, 77,  210 

Eleventh, 77,  215 

Twelfth, 86,  216 

Thirteenth, 87,  216 

Fourteenth, 88,  216 

Fifteenth, 89,  216 

Sixteenth, 90,  216 

Seventeenth, 230 

SHARPSHOOTERS.  — First  Company, 72,  235 

Second  do., 72,  235 

Third  do., 73,  235 

BATTERIES.  — First, 71,  238 

Second, 72,  239 

Third, 240 

(7) 


INDEX. 

PAGE. 

CAVALRY.  —  First  Regiment, 73,  242 

BATTLES.  —  Antietam, 142 

Cedar  Creek, 185 

Crampton's  Gap, 139 

Fredericksburg, 146,  149 

Gettysburg, 164,  217 

Goulding's  Farm, 128,  130 

Lee's  Mills, 120 

Petersburg, 179 

Rappahannock  Station 167 

Savage's  Station, 131 

White  Oak  Swamp, 133 

Wilderness, 168 

Williamsburg, 126 

BIOGRAPHICAL.  — Brown,  Lieut.  Col.  Addison,  Jr.  .  .  269 
Cummings,  Lieut.  Col.  Charles,  .  .  261 
Farr,  Captain  Dennie  W.,  ....  271 

Jarvis,  Major  Charles, 265 

Phelps,  General  John  Wolcott,  .  .  259 
Stannard,  General  George  J.,  .  .  .  251 
Tyler,  Colonel  John  Steele,  .  .  .263 
Wales,  Brevet  Major  Elijah,  .  .  .267 
Washburn,  General  Peter  T.,  .  .  .  256 

INCIDENTS.— Before  the  Battle  of  Bethel, 273 

Bravery  at  Lee's  Mills, 278 

Dying  Soldier's  Prayer  for  Pres't  Lincoln,  281 

Escaped  Prisoners, 280 

Last  Words  of  Colonel  Stone,     ....  277 
A  Slave's  Prayer, 279 

ANECDOTES.  —  Don't  See  It, 288 

Drummer  Boy, 287 

Heroism  at  Fredericksburg, 287 


THE    REBELLION. 


FEOM  the  day  of  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  there  has  been  an  antagonism 
between  the  Northern  and  the  Southern  portions  of 
the  Union.  That  Constitution  contains  not  one  word 
hostile  to  liberty  and  humanity.  In  it,  however,  is 
a  single  phrase  which  has  been  interpreted  differently 
by  the  different  sections  of  the  country  —  "held  to 
labor."  At  the  North,  these  simple,  harmless  words 
mean  a  hired  man,  an  apprentice.  At  the  South,  they 
mean  a  slave,  feudal  bondage,  the  right  of  property 
in  man,  and  all  the  attendant  oppressions  and  cruel 
ties.  From  these  different  constructions  of  the  spirit 
of  the  organic  law  of  the  country,  and  the  widely- 
different  modes  of  life  and  of  thought,  the  antago 
nism  between  the  North  and  the  South  has  grown 
with  the  growth  and  strengthened  with  the  strength 

(9) 


10  VEKMONT    IN    THE 

of  the  nation.  Mr.  Iverson,  of  Georgia,  in  speaking 
on  this  subject  in  the  United  States  Senate,  on  the 
5th  of  December,  1860,  said,  "  Sir,  disguise  the  fact 
as  you  will,  there  is  an  enmity  between  the  Northern 
and  the  Southern  people,  which  is  deep  and  enduring, 
and  you  never  can  eradicate  it  —  never.  .  .  .  We  are 
enemies  as  much  as  if  we  were  hostile  States.  We 
have  not  lived  in  peace.  We  are  not  now  living  in 
peace.  It  is  not  expected  that  we  shall  ever  live  in 
peace." 

Mr.  Mason,  of  Virginia,  in  the  same  debate,  said, 
"  This  is  a  war  of  sentiment  and  opinion,  by  one  form 
of  society  against  another  form  of  society." 

Garrett  Davis,  senator  from  Kentucky,  said,  "The 
Cotton  States,  by  their  slave  labor,  have  become 
wealthy,  and  many  of  their  planters  have  princely 
revenues  —  from  fifty  thousand  to  one  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars  a  year.  This  wealth  has  begot  pride, 
and  insolence,  and  ambition ;  and  those  points  of  the 
Southern  character  have  been  displayed  most  insult 
ingly  in  the  halls  of  Congress.  As  a  class,  the 
wealthy  cotton  growers  are  insolent,  they  are  proud, 
they  are  domineering,  they  are  ambitious.  They  have 
monopolized  the  government  in  its  honors  for  forty  or 
fifty  years,  with  few  interruptions.  When  they  saw 
the  scepter  about  to  depart  from  them,  in  the  election 
of  Abraham  Lincoln,  sooner  than  give  up  office,  and 


GEE  AT    REBELLION.  11 

the  spoils  of  office,  in  their  inad  and  wicked  ambition, 
they  determined  to  disrupt  the  old  Confederation,  and 
erect  a  new  one,  wherein  they  would  have  undisputed 
power.  Nine  out  of  ten  of  the  Northern  people  were 
sound  upon  the  subject.  They  were  opposed  to  the 
extension  of  slavery ;  and  I  do  not  condemn  them  for 
that :  but  they  were  willing  to  accord  to  the  slave 
holders  all  their  constitutional  rights." 

The  slaveholders  had  become  arrogant  in  their  de 
mands  upon  Congress,  claiming  that  the  Constitution 
favored  freedom,  free  labor,  and  free  schools,  and  that 
it  should  be  so  far  changed  as  to  maintain  the  exclu 
sive  claims  of  an  aristocratic  class,  and  to  strengthen 
their  hold  upon  their  slaves.  They  insisted  that  the 
domestic  slave  trade  should  be  nurtured,  and  the  for 
eign  slave  trade  opened.  They  demanded  the  right 
to  extend  slavery  over  all  the  Territories  of  the  United 
States ;  the  right  to  hold  their  slaves  in  all  the  States 
of  the  Union  temporarily ;  that  speaking  or  writing 
against  slavery  in  any  State  of  the  Union  should  be  a 
penal  offence ;  that  the  North  should  catch  their  fugi 
tive  slaves,  and  send  them  back  to  bondage ;  and  that 
the  administration  of  the  General  Government  should 
be  placed  in  the  hands  of  those  only  whom  the  South 
could  trust,  as  the  pledged  enemies  of  republican 
equality,  and  the  friends  of  slavery.  These  were  the 
demands  of  the  South,  which,  they  said,  must  be 


12  VERMONT   IN    THE 

acceded  to,  or  they  would  dash  the  Union  to  pieces 
and  from  the  fragments  construct  a  Confederacy,  with 
slavery  for  its  corner-stone. 

In  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  Presi 
dency,  in  1860,  the  people  of  the  United  States  said, 
most  emphatically,  "  We  will  not  accede  to  these  arro 
gant  and  wicked  demands.  We  will  not  thus  change 
the  Constitution  of  our  fathers.  We  will  abide  by  it 
as  it  is."  In  an  appeal  to  the  ballot-box  the  slave 
holders  were  fairly  and  overwhelmingly  defeated,  and 
they  determined  to  secede  and  break  up  the  Union. 

As  long  ago  as  1856,  Hon.  Preston  Brooks,  of  South 
Carolina,  said,  in  a  speech  in  Charleston,  at  an  ovation 
given  in  his  honor,  for  his  brutal  assault  upon  Senator 
Sumner,  of  Massachusetts,  for  words  spoken  in  debate 
in  his  place  in  the  Senate,  "I  tell  you,  fellow-citizens, 
from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  that  the  only  mode 
which  I  think  available  for  meeting  it  [the  issue],  is 
just  to  tear  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
trample  it  under  foot,  and  form  a  Southern  Confed 
eracy,  every  State  of  which  shall  be  a  Slaveholding 
State." 

Mr.  Hunter,  of  Virginia,  detailed  in  the  Senate  of 
the  United  States  the  changes  in  the  Constitution 
with  which  alone  the  Slaveholders  would  be  satisfied. 
His  demands  were,  — 

1.   Congress  shall  have  no  power  to  abolish  slavery 


GREAT   REBELLION. 


13 


in  the   States,  or  the  District   of  Columbia,  or  the 
dockyards,  forts,  and  arsenals  of  the  United  States. 

2.  Congress  shall  not  abolish,  tax,  or  obstruct  the 
slave  trade  between  the  States. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  of  the  States  to 
suppress  combination,  within  its  jurisdiction,  for  the 
armed  invasion  of  any  other  State. 

4.  States  shall  be  admitted  with  or  without  slavery, 
according  to  the  election  of  the  people. 

5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  States  to  restore  fugi 
tive  slaves,  or  pay  the  value  of  the  same. 

6.  Fugitives  from  justice   shall  be   deemed  those 
who  have  offended  the  laws  of  the  State  within  its 
jurisdiction,  and  shall  have  escaped  therefrom. 

7.  Congress  shall  recognize  and  protect  as  property, 
what  is  held  to  be  such  by  the  laws  of  any  State,  in 
the  Territories,  dockyards,  arsenals,  forts,  and  wherever 
the  United  States  have  exclusive  jurisdiction. 

Mr.  Hunter  also  demanded  that  there  should  always 
be  two  Presidents  chosen,  one  by  the  Slaveholding 
States,  and  the  other  by  the  North,  and  that  no  act 
should  be  valid  unless  approved  by  both  Presidents. 
Thus  giving  to  not  more  than  three  hundred  thousand 
slaveholders  as  much  power  in  the  government  as  to 
the  other  thirty  millions  of  population.  He  also 
demanded  that  the  United  States  Supreme  Court 
should  consist  of  ten  members,  five  to  be  chosen 


14  VERMONT   IN   THE 

by  the  little  handful  of  slaveholders,  and  the  other 
five  by  the  millions  of  freemen. 

To  accomplish  their  purpose,  every  man  at  the  South 
was  to  be  compelled,  by  the  reign  of  terror,  to  support 
the  cause  of  the  slaveholders.  Vigilance  committees 
were  organized,  the  mails  were  searched,  and  a  system 
of  espionage  introduced,  such  as  no  despotism  on 
earth  ever  before  equalled.  A  gentleman  from  Hinds 
County,  Mississippi,  wrote  to  the  editor  of  the  New 
York  Tribune,  under  date  of  February  7,  1861, — 

"  I  have  lived  in  this  State  twenty-five  years.  Yet 
if  I  should  say,  not  openly  upon  the  housetop,  but  at 
my  own  table,  among  my  family  and  friends  congre 
gated  there,  that  I  do  not  consider  that  the  South  has 
any  real  grievance  to  complain  of,  and  totally  oppose 
the  secession  of  this  or  any  other  State  from  the  Union, 
my  property,  rny  life  even,  would  not  be  safe  an  hour. 
It  is  very  certain  that  those  who  are  in  favor  of  seces 
sion  have  no  more  than  a  bare  majority  in  any  of  the 
Southern  States.  We,  the  Union  men  of  the  South, 
call  on  you  of  the  North  not  to  desert  us." 

The  slaveholders  demanded  further,  in  addition  to  the 
right  of  the  general  extension  of  slavery,  that  the 
laws  of  the  Free  States  should  be  so  changed  as>  to 
enable  them  to  hold  their  enslaved  servants  at  the 
North  temporarily,  while,  at  the  same  time,  they  re 
fused  to  allow  a  Northern  gentleman  even  to  enter 
their  States  with  a  free  hired  colored  servant. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  15 

The  candidates  for  President  in  1860  were  Abraham 
Lincoln,  of  Illinois,  nominated  by  the  Republican  party, 
who  was  openly  pledged  to  resist  the  extension  of 
slavery,  while  he  avowed  that  Congress  had  no  con 
stitutional  right  to  interfere  with  slavery  in  those 
States  where  it  existed,  but  that  it  was  both  the  right 
and  the  duty  of  Congress  to  prohibit  slavery  in  all  the 
United  States  Territories.  John  C.  Breckinridge  was 
the  candidate  of  the  slaveholders,  pledged  to  admin 
ister  the  government  in  the  most  effectual  way  to 
nurture,  and  to  give  increasing  political  power  to  the 
institution  of  slavery.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  John 
Bell  were  supported  by  those  who  wished  to 'effect 
some  compromise,  and  who  were  ready,  for  the  sake 
of  avoiding  civil  war,  to  make  very  great  concessions 
to  the  South. 

The  election  took  place  on  the  6th  of  November, 
and  the  result  of  the  popular  vote  was,  for  electors : 
Lincoln,  1,857,610 ;  Douglas,  1,365,976 ;  Breckinridge, 
847,953 ;  Bell,  591,613 ;  giving  Lincoln  the  electoral 
votes  of  seventeen  out  of  the  thirty-three  States ; 
eleven  for  Breckinridge;  three  for  Bell,  and  one  — 
Missouri  —  with  three-sevenths  of  ISTew  Jersey,  for 
Douglas. 

Mr.  Lincoln  received  the  electoral  votes  of  Califor 
nia,  4 ;  Connecticut,  6 ;  Illinois,  11 ;  Indiana,  13 ;  Iowa, 
4;  Maine,  8;  Massachusetts,  13;  Michigan,  6;  Min- 


16  VERMONT    IN    THE 

nesota,  4 ;  New  Hampshire,  5 ;  New  Jersey,  4 ;  New 
York,  35;  Ohio,  23;  Oregon,  3;  Pennsylvania,  27; 
Rhode  Island,  4  ;  Vermont,  5  ;  Wisconsin,  5  — 180. 
John  C.  Breckinridge  received  the  votes  of  Alabama, 
9 ;  Arkansas,  4 ;  Delaware,  3 ;  Florida,  3 ;  Georgia,  10  ; 
Louisiana,  6 ;  Maryland,  8 ;  Mississippi,  7 ;  North  Car 
olina,  10 ;  South  Carolina,  8 ;  Texas,  4  —  72.  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  received  the  votes  of  Missouri,  9,  and  3 
of  the  7  votes  of  New  Jersey  — 12.  John  Bell  re 
ceived  the  votes  of  Kentucky,  12  ;  Tennessee,  12;  Vir 
ginia,  15  —  39.  Hannibal  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  was 
elected  Vice-President,  receiving  180  electoral  votes, 
while  Joseph  Lane  received  72,  Edward  Everett  39, 
and  Herschel  Johnson  12.  The  electors  chosen  in 
Vermont  were,  William  Henry,  Henry  G.  Root,  Jo 
seph  Warner,  Edward  A.  Cahoon,  and  D.  W.  C. 
Clark. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  February,  in  the  presence  of  the 
two  Houses  of  Congress,  the  Electoral  votes  were 
officially  counted  and  declared  by  John  C.  Breckin 
ridge,  the  slaveholders'  candidate  for  President,  who 
was  at  that  time  Vice-President  and  the  President  of 
the  Senate.  Amid  deadly  silence,  the  result  was  an 
nounced  as  follows:  One  hundred  and  eighty  votes 
were  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln ;  seventy-two  for  John 
C.  Breckinridge;  thirty-nine  for  John  Bell;  twelve 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  This  gave  to  Abraham 


GREAT    REBELLION.  17 

Lincoln  a  majority  of  fifty-seven  votes  over  all  the 
other  candidates.  Whereupon  the  Vice-President 
rising,  said,  "  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois,  having  re 
ceived  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electoral 
votes,  is  duly  elected  President  of  the  United  States 
for  the  four  years  commencing  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1861.  And  Hannibal  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  having  re 
ceived  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electoral 
votes,  is  duly  elected  Vice-President  for  the  same 
term." 

This  was  a  day  of  great  excitement  in  Washington. 
It  was  a  slaveholding  city,  in  the  midst  of  slavehold- 
ing  States,  and  fire-eaters  from  the  South  were  there 
in  great  numbers,  and  had  boldly  threatened  that  the 
announcement  of  the  vote  for  President  should  not  be 
made,  and  that  the  government  should  be  broken  up 
in  a  row.  James  Buchanan  was  then  President ;  had 
been  intimidated  by  the  slaveholders,  and,  if  he  had 
not  been  made  their  tool,  had  not  the  courage  to  pre 
pare  to  meet  and  thwart  their  threats  of  violence.  In 
that  crisis  the  nation  could  place  but  little  reliance 
upon  his  efficiency,  and  reposed  but  little  confidence 
in  his  patriotism.  General  Winfield  Scott  had  pre 
pared  to  meet  any  emergency  that  might  arise,  by 
drawing  to  the  city  a  military  force  so  planting  their 
guns  as  to  sweep  the  streets  at  the  first  outbreak,  thus 
overawing  the  conspirators ;  and  the  day  passed  quiet- 
2 


18  VERMONT   IN   THE 

ly,  and  everything  was  done  with  decency  and  in 
order. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1860,  a  convention  of  a 
few  score  of  slaveholders  in  South  Carolina  led  off  in 
the  rebellion,  and  passed  the  following  resolution :  — 

"We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  in 
convention  assembled,  do  declare  and  ordain,  and  it 
is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  that  the  ordinance 
adopted  by  us  in  convention,  on  the  23d  of  May,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1788,  whereby  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  of  America  was  ratified,  and  also 
all  acts,  and  parts  of  acts,  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
this  State  ratifying  the  amendments  of  said  Constitu 
tion,  are  hereby  repealed,  and  that  the  Union  now 
subsisting  between  South  Carolina  and  other  States, 
under  the  name  of  the  United  States  of  America,  is 
hereby  dissolved." 

In  the  course  of  the  month  of  January,  1861,  the 
States  of  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Mis 
sissippi,  and  North  Carolina"  followed,  and  adopted 
similar  acts  of  secession  to  that  adopted  by  South 
Carolina ;  and,  on  the  4th  of  February,  forty-two  del 
egates,  representing  these  seven  seceded  States,  met  at 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  proceeded  to  organize  a 
Southern  Confederacy  of  these,  with  such  others  as 
might  subsequently  be  added,  and  elected  Jeffer 
son  Davis,  President,  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens, 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  19 

Vice-President.  On  the  18th  of  the  same  month, 
Jefferson  Davis  was  inaugurated  President  at  Mont 
gomery. 

President  Buchanan's  cabinet  was  composed  of 
slaveholders,  and  Northern  men  with  Southern  prin 
ciples.  In  November,  as  soon  as  the  result  of 
the  presidential  election  was  known,  these  men  set 
at  work  to  embarrass  and  cripple  the  government, 
that  its  capital,  forts,  arsenals,  public  property,  and 
munitions  of  war  might  easily  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  wicked  conspirators  against  the  Union.  Lewis 
Cass,  of  Michigan,  was  Secretary  of  State,  and  tried 
to  persuade  the  President  to  take  steps  to  avert  the 
impending  calamity,  and  protect  the  public  property ; 
failing  in  which,  he  resigned  in  December,  and  was  suc 
ceeded  by  Jeremiah  S.  Black,  of  Pennsylvania.  How- 
ell  Cobb,  a  slaveholder  from  Georgia,  was  Secretary 
of  the  Treasurv.  When  he  entered  upon  office,  the 
national  treasury  was  in  a  healthy  and  prosperous 
condition.  He  resigned,  and  took  an  office  under  the 
conspirators.  More  than  six  millions  of  dollars  had 
been  stolen,  and,  when  his  successor  went  into  office, 
the  treasury  was  on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy.  Jacob 
Thompson,  a  Mississippi  slaveholder,  was  Secretary  of 
the  Interior,  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  aid  the  con 
spirators.  John  B.  Floyd,  a  Virginia  slaveholder,  was 
Secretary  of  War. 


20  VERMONT    IN    THE 

There  was  a  plan  on  foot  —  which,  thank  God,  was 
discovered  in  season  to  thwart  it  —  to  assassinate  the 
President  elect  when  on  his  way  to  Washington  to 
take  his  seat.  In  the  panic,  which  it  was  supposed 
would  ensue,  troops  from  the  adjacent  Slave  States  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia  were  to  seize  upon  Washing 
ton  and  all  its  treasures,  and  make  it  the  capital  of  the 
new  Confederacy.  To  this  end  the  United  States 
army  —  but  a  few  thousands  in  number — was  so  dis 
posed  that  the  soldiers  could  not  rally  to  the  support 
of  the  government,  while  the  arsenals  at  the  North 
were  despoiled,  the  arms  sent  to  the  Slave  States,  and 
the  fortifications  in  those  States  seized  and  garrisoned 
by  the  conspirators.  Having  accomplished  all  this, 
Flpyd  sent  in  his  resignation,  joined  the  rebels,  and 
was  appointed  a  general  in  their  army.  Most  of  the 
clerks  and  employees  in  the  different  departments  of 
the  government  at  Washington  were  in  sympathy 
with  the  conspirators,  and  many  were  actively  aiding 
them  in  their  damnable  plots  to  overthrow  the  best 
government  that  the  sun  ever  shone  upon. 

Isaac  Toucey,  of  Connecticut,  —  a  Northern  man 
with  Southern  principles,  —  was  Secretary  of  the 
Navy.  According  to  the  report  of  his  successor  to 
Congress,  July  4,  1861,  our  fleet  in  February,  1861, 
consisted  of  ninety  vessels  of  all  classes,  carrying  two 
thousand  four  hundred  and  fifteen  guns;  and  was 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  21 

manned  by  a  complement  of  about  seven  thousand 
six  hundred  men,  exclusive  of  officers  and  marines. 
Notwithstanding  the  necessity  for  the  presence  of 
this  fleet  in  our  own  waters  to  aid  the  government 
in  this  trying  hour,  it  was  dispersed,  for  no  good 
excuse ;  the  Brooklyn,  twenty-five  guns,  and  the  store- 
ship  Relief,  two  guns,  only  remaining,  to  defend  the 
entire  Atlantic  coast. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  1861,  a  select  committee 
of  five,  appointed  by  the  House  of  Representatives, 
in  a  report  upon  the  conduct  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  after  stating  what  disposition  had  been  made 
of  our  naval  force,  say,  — 

"  The  committee  cannot  fail  to  call  attention  to 
this  extraordinary  disposition  of  the  entire  naval  force 
of  the  country,  and  especially  in  connection  with  the 
present  no  less  extraordinary  and  critical  juncture  of 
our  political  affairs.  They  cannot  call  to  mind  any 
period  in  the  past  history  of  the  country,  of  such  pro 
found  peace  and  internal  repose,  as  would  justify  so 
entire  an  abandonment  of  the  coast  of  the  country 
to  the  chance  of  fortune.  Certainly  since  the  nation 
possessed  a  navy,  it  has  never  before  sent  its  entire 
available  force  into  distant  seas,  and  exposed  the  im 
mense  interests  at  home,  of  which  it  is  the  especial 
guardian,  to  the  dangers  from  which,  even  in  times 
of  the  utmost  quiet,  prudence  and  forecast  do  not 
always  shelter  them. 


22  VEKMONT   IN    THE 

"  To  the  committee  this  disposition  of  the  naval 
force,  at  this  most  critical  period,  seems  extraordinary. 
The  permitting  of  vessels  to  depart  for  distant  seas 
after  these  unhappy ,  difficulties  had  broken  out  at 
home,  the  omission  to  put  in  repair  and  commission, 
ready  for  orders,  a  single  one  of  the  twenty-eight 
ships  dismantled  and  unfit  for  service,  in  our  own 
ports,  and  that,  too,  while  $646,639.79  of  the  appro 
priation  for  repairs  in  the  navy,  the  present  year, 
remained  unexpended,  were,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
committee,  grave  errors,  without  justification  or  ex 
cuse." 

All  these,  and  many  other  like  wicked  acts,  were 
being  committed  under  the  eye  and  with  the  knowl 
edge  of  President  Buchanan,  and  by  officers  whom 
he  had  the  power  to  displace  at  any  moment,  and 
yet  he  never  raised  his  hand  to  prevent  or  check 
them. 

There  were  a  few  leading  and  influential  men  in 
the  slave  States,  slaveholders  themselves,  who,  wiser 
than  the  rest,  were  opposed  to  secession  and  the 
disruption  of  the  old  Union,  but  were  soon  forced  to 
acquiesce  in  the  schemes  and  movements  of  the  con 
spirators.  They  were  whipped  into  the  ranks  of  the 
rebellion.  It  was  not  sufficient  for  them  to  remain 
silent  or  neutral,  but  they  must  be  active  for  treason, 
or  their  property  and  lives  were  at  the  mercy  of  a  set 
of  fiends  who  showed  no  mercy. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  23 

Alexander  H.  Stephens,  for  many  years  a  member 
of  the  United  States  House  of  Representatives  from 
Georgia,  and  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in 
that  State,  opposed  secession.  In  a  speech  to  an 
immense  gathering  of  his  constituents  at  Milledge- 
ville,  on  the  14th  of  November,  1860,  he  said,  — 

"  The  first  question  that  presents  itself  is,  Shall  the 
people  of  the  South  secede  from  the  Union  in  con 
sequence  of  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  Presi 
dency  of  the  United  States  ?  My  countrymen,  I  tell 
you  frankly,  candidly,  and  earnestly,  that  I  do  not 
think  that  they  ought.  In  my  judgment,  the  election 
of  no  man,  constitutionally  chosen  to  that  high  office, 
is  sufficient  cause  for  any  State  to  separate  from  the 
Union.  It  ought  to  stand  by,  and  aid  still  in  main 
taining  the  Constitution  of  the  country.  To  make  a 
point  of  resistance  to  the  government,  to  withdraw 
from  it,  because  a  man  has  been  constitutionally 
elected,  puts  us  in  the  wrong.  We  are  pledged  to 
maintain  the  Constitution.  Many  of  us  have  sworn 
to  support  it.  Can  we,  therefore,  for  the  mere  elec 
tion  of  a  man  to  the  Presidency,  and  that,  too,  in 
accordance  with  the  prescribed  forms  of  the  Consti 
tution,  make  a  point  of  resistance  to  the  government, 
without  becoming  the  breakers  of  that  sacred  instru 
ment  ourselves? 

"But  that  this  government  of  our  fathers,   with 


24  VERMONT   IN   THE 

all  its  defects,  comes  nearer  the  objects  of  all  good 
governments  than  any  other  on  the  face  of  the  earth, 
is  my  settled  conviction.  Contrast  it  now  with  any 
other  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  (England,  said  Mr. 
Toombs.)  England,  my  friend  says.  Well,  that  is 
the  next  best,  I  grant ;  but  I  think  we  have  improved 
upon  England.  Statesmen  tried  their  apprentice  hand 
on  the  government  of  England,  and  then  ours  was 
made.  Ours  sprung  from  that,  avoiding  many  of  its 
defects,  taking  most  of  the  good,  and  leaving  out 
many  of  its  errors,  and,  from  the  whole,  constructing 
and  building  up  this  model  republic  —  the  best  which 
the  history  of  the  world  gives  any  account  of.  Where 
will  you  go,  following  the  sun  in  its  circuit  around 
our  globe,  to  find  a  government  that  better  protects 
the  liberties  of  its  people,  and  secures  to  them  the 
blessings  we  enjoy?  I  think  that  one  of  the  evils 
that  beset  us  is  a  surfeit  of  liberty,  an  exuber 
ance  of  the  priceless  blessings  for  which  we  are 
ungrateful. 

"I  look  upon  this  country,  with  our  institutions, 
as  the  Eden  of  the  world  —  the  paradise  of  the  uni 
verse.  It  may  be  that  out  of  it  we  may  become 
greater  and  more  prosperous ;  but  I  am  candid  and 
sincere  in  telling  you  that  I  fear,  if  we  rashly  evince 
passion,  and  without  sufficient  cause  shall  take  that 
step,  that,  instead  of  becoming  greater  and  more 


GREAT    REBELLION.  25 

powerful,  prosperous,  and  happy,  —  instead  of  becom 
ing  gods,  we  will  become  demons,  and  at  no  distant 
day  commence  cutting  one  another's  throats." 

Early  in  January,  1861,  Georgia  passed  an  act  of 
secession,  and  joined  the  other  States  that  had  with 
drawn  from  the  Union;  and  in  February,  Mr.  Stephens 
accepted  the  office  of  Vice-President  of  the  new 
Confederacy,  and  traversed  the  Slave  States,  and  ex 
erted  all  his  powers  to  rouse  the  people  to  war  against 
the  government  of  the  United  States. 

The  first  plan  of  the  rebels  was  to  break  up  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  take  possession  of 
its  capital,  navy  yards,  armories,  arsenals,  and  forti 
fications,  preparatory  for  the  outbreak.  When  all 
this  was  done  it  was  supposed  there  would  be  but 
a  feeble  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  the' 
North.  The  government  was  to  be  reorganized,  with 
slavery  established  in  all  the  States  and  Territories, 
and  Jefferson  Davis  as  its  head.  All  arrangements 
for  carrying  out  this  scheme  had  been  deliberately 
and  carefully  made,  and  were  apparently  near  con 
summation,  before  the  people  of  the  North  could  be 
made  to  comprehend  the  possibility  of  such  a  move 
ment  by  any  considerable  portion  of  the  people  of 
the  Slave  States. 

One  part  of  this  most  wicked  and  damnable  plot 
was  to  assassinate  President  Lincoln  as  he  passed 


26  VERMONT    IN    THE 

through  Baltimore,  on  his  way  to  Washington,  to  be 
inaugurated.  It  was  discovered  in  season,  however, 
to  prevent  such  a  great  calamity  to  the  country.  At 
all  the  cities  and  large  towns  on  his  route  the  people 
assembled  and  gave  him  most  enthusiastic  receptions. 
The  loyal  people  of  Baltimore  had  made  preparations 
to  testify  their  respect  by  a  large  gathering,  proces 
sion,  &c.,  while  the  conspirators  had  arranged  to  get 
up  a  riot  at  the  depot,  on  his  arrival,  during  which 
the  President,  unarmed  and  unprotected,  was  to  be 
stabbed  or  shot.  This  plan  was  discovered  by  the 
police,  who  informed  General  Scott  and  senator 
Seward,  and  Frederick  W.  Seward,  son  of  the  senator, 
was  immediately  despatched  to  meet  the  President, 
and  inform  him  of  the  danger  to  his  life.  He  had  a 
public  reception  at  Harrisburg,  after  which,  with  a 
few  of  his  friends,  he  retired  to  his  private  apartments 
at  the  hotel  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  as 
he  was  known  to  be  weary,  was  not  interrupted.  As 
soon  as  it  was  dark,  he,  in  company  with  Colonel 
Lamon,  unobserved,  entered  a  hack  and  drove  to  the 
Pennsylvania  railroad,  where  a  special  train  was  wait 
ing  for  him.  The  telegraph  wires  were  in  the  mean 
time  cut,  so  that  the  knowledge  of  his  departure,  if 
discovered  or  suspected,  could  not  be  sent  abroad. 
The  train  reached  Philadelphia  at  half  past  ten  o'clock 
that  night.  They  drove  immediately  across  the  city 


GREAT    REBELLION.  27 

to  the  Baltimore  and  Washington  depot.  The  regu 
lar  night  train  was  just  leaving,  at  a  quarter  past 
eleven.  They  took  berths  in  a  sleeping-car,  and, 
without  any  change,  passed  directly  through  Balti 
more,  and  arrived  at  Washington  safely  and  unexpect 
edly,  at  half  past  six  o'clock  next  morning,  being  the 
23d  of  February.  Thus  was  an  important  part  of  the 
scheme  of  the  rebels  frustrated,  and  the  proposed  at 
tempt  to  seize  the  capital  was  prevented  by  the 
energy  and  watchfulness  of  the  friends  of  the  incoming 
administration. 

The  conspirators  had  counted  on  a  divided  North, 
believing  there  were  many  friends  of  their  cherished 
institution  here  who  would  join  them  in  their  rebellion 
against  the  government.  Here,  again,  they  made  a 
great  mistake ;  for,  when  the  people  of  the  Free 
States  were  aware  of  the  wicked  plot  to  break  up 
the  Union,  and  the  extent  of  it,  they  arose  as  one 
man  to  meet  the  emergency ;  and  the  Northern  men, 
with  Southern  sympathies,  found  themselves  in  a  most 
disgraceful  and  hopeless  minority.  And  the  plan  to 
invade  the  Northern  States  had  to  be  abandoned, 
while  General  Scott,  contrary  to  the  wish  of  President 
Buchanan,  who  was  completely  under  control  of  the 
slave  power,  had  gathered  about  three  hundred  troops 
in  and  about  the  capital  for  its  protection. 

On  the  retirement  of  the  traitor  Floyd  from  the 


28  VERMONT   IN   THE 

War  Department,  Hon.  Joseph  Holt,  of  Kentucky,  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  place.  He  cooperated  with  Gen 
eral  Scott  in  the  adoption  of  vigorous  measures  for 
the  protection  of  Washington  from  the  menaced  cap 
ture  by  the  rebels,  which  greatly  alarmed  them.  On 
the  18th  of  February,  Mr.  Holt  addressed  a  letter  to 
President  Buchanan,  in  reply  to  a  resolution  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  inquiring  into  the  state  of 
the  defenses  of  Washington,  from  which  the  following 
extracts  are  made  :  — 

"  The  scope  of  the  question  submitted  by  the  House 
will  be  sufficiently  met  by  dealing  with  tbe  facts  as 
they  exist,  irrespective  of  the  cause  from  which  they 
have  proceeded.  That  revolution  has  been  distin 
guished  by  a  boldness  and  completeness  of  success 
rarely  equalled  in  the  history  of  civil  commotions. 
Its  overthrow  of  the  Federal  authority  has  not  only 
been  sudden  and  widespread,  but  has  been  marked  by 
excesses  which  have  alarmed  all,  and  been  sources  of 
profound  humiliation  to  a  large  portion  of  the  Ameri 
can  people.  Its  history  is  a  history  of  surprises  and 
treacheries,  and  ruthless  spoliations.  The  forts  of  the 
United  States  have  been  captured  and  garrisoned,  and 
hostile  flags  unfurled  upon  their  ramparts.  Its  arsenals 
have  been  seized,  and  the  vast  amount  of  public  arms 
they  contained  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  captors ; 
while  more  than  half  a  million  of  dollars,  found  in  the 


GREAT   REBELLION.  29 

mint  at  New  Orleans,  have  been  unscrupulously  ap 
plied  to  replenish  the  coffers  of  Louisiana.  Officers  in 
command  of  revenue  cutters  of  the  United  States 
have  been  prevailed  on  to  violate  their  trusts,  and 
surrender  the  property  in  their  charge ;  and  instead 
of  being  branded  for  their  crimes,  they  and  the  vessels 
they  betrayed  have  been  cordially  received  into  the 
service  of  the  seceded  States." 

After  reiterating  the  acts  of  the  conspirators,  the 
information  that  had  reached  his  department  upon  the 
subject,  the  necessity  for  immediate  and  decided  action, 
and  telling  the  President  what  steps  he  had  taken  to 
save  the  government  from  humiliation  and  disgrace, 
Secretary  Holt  closes  his  letter  as  follows  :  — 

"  Already  this  display  of  life  and  loyalty  on  the  part 
of  your  administration  has  produced  the  happiest  ef 
fects.  Public  confidence  has  been  restored,  and  the 
feverish  apprehension,  which  it  was  so  mortifying  to 
contemplate,  has  been  banished.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  machinations  of  deluded,  lawless  men, 
the  execution  of  their  purposes  has  been  suspended, 
if  not  altogether  abandoned,  in  view  of  preparations, 
which  announce  more  impressively  than  words,  that 
this  administration  is  alike  able  and  resolved  to  trans 
fer  in  peace  to  the  President  elect  the  authority  that, 
under  the  Constitution,  belongs  to  him.  To  those,  if 
such  there  be,  who  desire  the  destruction  of  the  re- 


30  VERMONT    IN    THE 

public,  the  presence  of  these  troops  is  necessarily  of 
fensive.  But  those  who  sincerely  love  our  institutions, 
cannot  fail  to  rejoice  that,  by  this  timely  precaution, 
they  have  probably  escaped  the  deep  dishonor  which 
they  must  have  suffered  had  the  capital,  like  the  forts 
and  .arsenals  of  the  South,  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
revolutionists,  who  have  found  this  great  government 
weak,  only  because,  in  the  exhaustless  beneficence  of 
its  spirit,  it  has  refused  to  strike,  even  in  its  own 
defence,  lest  it  should  wound  the  aggressors." 

One  Breshwood,  a  Virginian,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  revenue-cutter  McLelland,  infamously  surren 
dered  his  vessel  to  the  rebels  at  New  Orleans ;  and 
Captain  Morrison  surrendered  the  revenue  cutter  Cass 
to  the  rebels  at  Mobile.  The  rebels  seized  Fort  Mor 
gan  at  Mobile,  and  called  upon  Lieutenant  John  N. 
Maffit',  who  was  in  command  of  the  Crusader,  which 
was  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  fort,  to  surrender  his 
vessel  to  the  "  Alabama  Navy."  The  noble  lieutenant 
replied,  "  I  may  be  overpowered ;  but  in  that  event, 
what  will  be  left  of  the  Crusader  will  not  be  worth 
taking."  He  saved  his  vessel,  which  afterwards  ren 
dered  signal  service  in  the  Gulf. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1861,  Lieutenant  J.  H. 
Hamilton,  of  South  Carolina,  ordered  Captain  Porter 
to  surrender  his  ship  to  the  rebels.  The  following  is 
Captain  Porter's  noble  reply :  "  You,  sir,  have  called 


GREAT    REBELLION.  31 

upon  your  brother  officers,  not  only  to  become  traitors 
to  their  country,  but  to  betray  their  sacred  trust,  and 
deliver  up  the  ships  under  their  command.  This  infa 
mous  appeal  would,  in  ordinary  times,  be  treated  with 
the  contempt  it  deserves.  But  I  feel  it  a  duty  I  owe 
myself,  and  brother  officers  with  whom  I  am  associated, 
to  reply,  and  state,  that  all  under  my  command  are 
true  and  loyal  to  the  '  Stars  and  Stripes,'  and  to  the 
Constitution.  My  duty  is  plain  before  me.  The  con 
stitutional  government  of  the  United  States  has  en 
trusted  me  with  the  command  of  this  beautiful  ship, 
and  before  I  will  permit  any  other  flag  than  the  '  Stars 
and  Stripes '  to  fly  at  her  peak,  I  will  fire  a  pistol  into 
her  magazine,  and  blow  her  up.  This  is  my  answer  to 
your  infamous  letter." 

For  a  few  days  before  the  inauguration,  Washington 
was  full  of  rumors  of  plots  to  prevent  by  violence  its 
consummation.  General  Scott  and  Secretary  Holt  had 
been  bending  all  their  energies  to  gather  a  military  force 
sufficient  to  keep  in  check,  or  suppress,  if  it  should  show 
itself,  any  lawless  demonstration,  and  to  insure  peace 
and  quiet.  An  imposing  military  escort  was  provided 
to  attend  the  President  to  the  Capitol,  and,  after  the 
ceremonies  of  inauguration,  to  the  White  House. 

The  procession,  consisting  of  civilians,  about  one 
thousand  regulars,  and  a  considerable  force  of  uni 
formed  militia,  escorted  the  retiring  and  incoming 


32  VERMONT    IN    THE 

Presidents,  who  were  in  the  same  carriage,  to  the 
Capitol.  On  the  spacious  eastern  portico  of  the  Capitol 
a  platform  had  been  erected,  the  space  in  front  of 
which  was  occupied  by  the  military.  The  platform 
was  occupied  by  the  Supreme  Court,  members  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  foreign  minis 
ters,  and  an  immense  crowd  of  privileged  persons. 
The  President  elect  was  introduced  by  Colonel  Ed 
ward  D.  Baker,  senator  from  Oregon,  and  was  re 
ceived  with  cheers  from  but  a  small  share  of  the  thirty 
thousand  persons  assembled.  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  a  clear, 
firm,  penetrating  voice,  delivered  his  inaugural  address, 
which  closed  with  the  following  paragraphs :  — 

"In  your  hands,  my  dissatisfied  fellow-countrymen, 
and  not  in  mine,  is  the  momentous  issue  of  civil  war. 
The  government  will  not  assail  you. 

"You  can  have  no  conflict  without  being  yourselves 
the  aggressors.  You  can  have  no  oath  registered  in 
heaven  to  destroy  the  government,  while  I  shall  have  the 
most  solemn  one  to  'preserve,  protect,  and  defend  it.' 

"I  am  loath  to  close.  We  are  not  enemies,  but 
friends.  We  must  not  be  enemies.  Though  passion 
may  have  strained,  it  must  not  break  our  bonds  of 
affection. 

"The  mystic  chords  of  memory,  stretching  from 
every  battle-field  and  patriot  grave  to  every  living 
heart  and  hearthstone  all  over  this  broad  land,  will  yet 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  33 

swell  the  chorus  of  the  Union  when  again  touched, 
as  surely  they  will  be,  by  the  better  angels  of  our 
nature." 

The  oath  of  office  was  administered  by  Chief  Justice 
Taney;  the  procession  was  re-formed,  and  escorted 
President  Lincoln  to  the  White  House.  Although 
there  were  many  low  mutterings  and  threats,  open 
and  implied,  the  arrangements  were  so  admirably 
made  and  carried  out  by  the  loyal  men  at  the  capital, 
that  everything  connected  with  the  ceremonies  of 
inauguration  passed  off  without  interruption  or  dis 
turbance. 

The  next  day  after  his  inauguration,  President  Lin 
coln  submitted  to  the  Senate  the  names  of  the  gentle 
men  whom  he  had  appointed  as  his  Cabinet  officers, 
as  follows :  William  H.  Seward,  of  New  York,  Sec 
retary  of  State ;  Salmon  P.  Chase,  of  Ohio,  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury ;  Simon  Cameron,  of  Pennsylvania, 
Secretary  of  War;  Gideon  Welles,  of  Connecticut, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy ;  Caleb  B.  Smith,  of  Indiana, 
Secretary  of  the  Interior;  Edward  Bates,  of  Mis 
souri,  Attorney  General ;  Montgomery  Blair,  of  Mary 
land,  Postmaster  General. 

The  rebel  capital  was  established  at  Montgomery, 
Alabama.  Jefferson  Davis  had  already  appointed  his 
Cabinet,  as  follows  :  Robert  Toombs,  of  Georgia,  Sec 
retary  of  State;  Charles  G.  Memminger,  of  South 


34  VERMONT   IN    THE 

Carolina,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury;  Leroy  Pope 
Walker,  of  Alabama,  Secretary  of  War ;  Stephen  R. 
Mallory,  of  Florida,  Secretary  of  the  Navy ;  John  H. 
Reagan,  of  Texas,  Postmaster  General. 

Thus  were  the  two  governments  organized.  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  and  a  majority  of  his  Cabinet  hoped 
that  all  differences  between  the  self-styled  Confed 
erate  government  and  the  government  of  the  United 
States  would  be  adjusted  without  a  resort  to  arms ; 
while  Jefferson  Davis's  government,  which  by  this 
time  had  relinquished  the  idea  of  a  revolution,  and 
set  themselves  up  as  independent  States,  asked  only 
to  be  let  alone,  to  be  allowed  to  possess  all  the  prop 
erty  of  the  United  States  that  they  had  stolen,  and 
to  be  acknowledged  as  independent  States.  While 
the  Confederate  States  claimed  the  right  to  secede 
from  the  Union,  and  set  up  a  government  of  their 
own,  the  government  of  the  United  States  denied 
that  right,  and  claimed  that  they  were  still  part  of 
the  Union,  and  subject  to  its  Constitution  and 
laws. 

Major  Robert  Anderson,  with  a  mere  handful  of 
men,  —  not  more  than  eighty  in  all,  —  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  fortifications  in  Charleston  harbor. 
They  mainly  tenanted  Fort  Moultrie,  —  the  older 
and  weaker  of  them,  — being  the  most  convenient 
to  the  city ;  but  it  could  not  have  been  held  twenty- 


GREAT   KEBELLICKN".  35 

four  hours  against  a  serious  assault.  Its  garrison  was 
surrounded  by  a  numerous  and  frowning  foe.  During 
the  night  of  the  26th  of  December,  1860,  Major  An 
derson  prudently  transferred  his  entire  force  to  Fort 
Sumter,  —  the  most  impregnable  of  all  the  forts  in 
the  harbor,  —  taking  such  munitions  and  provisions 
as  he  could,  destroying  the  rest,  and  spiking  the  guns, 
so  that  they  could  not  be  used  by  the  rebels  against 
Sumter.  This  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  rebels,  and 
they  complained  of  it  as  a  breach  of  faith,  as  it  was 
alleged  that  President  Buchanan  had  promised  that 
the  military  status  should  not  be  changed  without  due 
notice.  On  the  27th,  —  the  next  day  after  the  evac 
uation  by  Major  Anderson,  —  the  rebels  seized  Forts 
Moultrie  and  Pickens;  and  about  the  same  time  the 
Federal  arsenal  at  Charleston,  containing  many  thou 
sand  stands  of  arms  and  a  large  quantity  of  military 
stores,  was  seized  by  the  volunteers  flocking  to  that 
city,  by  direction  of  the  State  authorities.  Castle 
Pinckney,  Fort  Moultrie,  and  Sullivan's  Island  were 
now  occupied  by  the  rebels,  and  their  defenses  en 
larged  and  improved,  while  the  custom-house,  post- 
office,  and  other  government  buildings  were  likewise 
appropriated,  without  resistance,  the  Federal  officers 
there  all  being  secessionists,  and  the  palmetto  flag 
raised  over  them.  Iron-clad  batteries  had  been  erect 
ed  in  such  number  as  to  command  all  the  entrances 


36  VERMONT    IN    THE 

| 

to  Charleston  harbor,  so  that  no  wooden  frigate  could 
pass  them,  and  precluded  the  possibility  of  sending 
reinforcements  or  supplies  to  Fort  Sumter.  The  Star 
of  the  West  was  sent  from  New  York  with  reenforce- 
ments  and  supplies  on  the  5th  of  January,  which  fact 
was  telegraphed  by  conspirators  to  their  friends  in 
Charleston.  She  appeared  off  the  bar  at  Charleston 
on  the  9th,  and,  when  nearing  Fort  Sumter,  was  fired 
upon  from  Fort  Moultrie  and  Morris's  Island,  and  was 
struck  by  one  shot.  Without  communicating  with 
Major  Anderson,  she  put  about,  and  steered  for  New 
York.  This  was  the  last  attempt  made  to  relieve 
Major  Anderson  in  his  most  embarrassed  condition, 
until  early  in  April,  after  the  inauguration  of  the  new 
government,  when  vessels  laden  with  provisions  Were 
sent  from  New  York,  and  arrived  off  the  bar  on 
the  12tb,  the  day  on  which  fire  was  opened  upon 
Sumter.  The  fleet  also  returned  to  New  York  with 
out  fulfilling  its  mission,  only  having  communicated 
with  Major  Anderson  by  signals. 

Such  was  the  situation  of  affairs  on  the  12th  day 
of  April,  1861,  when  the  rebels  of  South  Carolina 
opened  the  most  wicked  and  causeless  war  upon  their 
government  ever  recorded  in  history.  In  the  four 
succeeding  years  events  of  immense  magnitude  and 
importance  have  transpired,  affecting  more  or  less 
seriously  every  nook  and  corner  of  our  widely  ex- 


GREAT    REBELLION.  37 

tended  country,  and  carrying  sadness  and  mourning 
to  almost  every  fireside  in  the  land. 

On  the  llth,  General  Beauregard  demanded  the 
surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  to  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment,  which  Major  Anderson  declined  to  do,  but 
suggested  that  he  would  very  soon  be  starved  out, 
if  supplies  were  not  sent  him.  General  Beauregard 
then  asked  of  Major  Anderson  to  state  at  what  time 
he  would  evacuate  Fort  Sumter,  if  unmolested ;  and 
was  answered  that  he  would  do  so  at  noon  on  the 
15th,  "should  I  not  receive,  prior  to  that  time,  con 
trolling  instructions  from  my  government,  or  addi 
tional  supplies."  This  reply  was  not  satisfactory ;  and, 
at  3.20,  A.  M.,  on  the  12th,  Major  Anderson  was 
notified  that  fire  would  be  opened  on  Fort  Sumter 
in  one  hour. 

At  the  appointed  moment  the  bombardment  com 
menced.  Fire  was  almost  simultaneously  opened  from 
Fort  Moultrie,  an  iron-clad  floating  battery  in  the  har 
bor,  Cummings  Point,  and  Mount  Pleasant.  Fifty 
breaching  cannon  playing  upon  the  fort,  followed  by 
the  crashing  and  crumbling  of  brick,  stone,  and  mor 
tar,  admonished  Major  Anderson  and  his  small  force 
of  seventy  true  men,  that  their  stay  in  the  fort  must 
be  short,  unless  relieved  by  a  more  powerful  fleet 
than  our  government  then  possessed.  At  seven 
o'clock,  after  breakfast,  —  the  principal  part  of  which 


38  VERMONT   IN   THE 

was  salt  pork,  —  the  command  was  divided  into  three 
reliefs,  each  in  succession  to  man  the  guns  for  four 
hours.  Captain  Arthur  Doubleday  was  in  command 
of  the  first  squad,  and  fired  the  first  gun,  which  was 
directed  upon  Fort  Moultrie.  Major  Anderson  had 
determined  to  make  the  best  resistance  in  his  power, 
though  fully  aware  that  the  fort  must  soon  succumb 
to  the  greatly  superior  force  with  which  he  had  to 
contend,  while  he  took  the  greatest  care  that  his  men 
should  be  exposed  as  little  as  possible  to  the  shot 
and  shells  of  the  enemy,  which  were  falling  in  every 
direction  around  them. 

Red-hot  shot  and  bursting  shells  soon  set  the 
wooden  barracks  on  fire,  and  nearly  the  whole  interior 
of  the  fort  blazed  like  a  furnace.  For  thirty-six  hours 
the  terrific  bombardment  continued,  with  but  occa 
sional  lulls.  The  garrison  in  Sumter  soon  became  so 
exhausted  that  they  could  make  but  a  feeble  response. 
The  scene  inside  the  fort  is  described  by  an  eye 
witness,  as  follows :  — 

"  The  fire  surrounded  us  on  all  sides.  Fearful  that 
the  walls  might  crack,  and  the  shells  pierce  and  pros 
trate  them,  we  commenced  taking  the  powder  out 
of  the  magazine  before  the  fire  had  fully  enveloped 
it.  We  took  ninety-six  barrels  of  powder  out,  and 
threw  them  into  the  sea,  leaving  two  hundred  barrels 
in  it.  Owing  to  a  lack  of  cartridges,  we  kept  five 


GREAT    REBELLION.  39 

men  inside  .the  magazine,  serving  as  we  wanted  them, 
thus  using  up  our  shirts,  sheets,  blankets,  and  all  the 
available  material  in  the  fort.  When  we  were  finally 
obliged  to  close  the  magazine,  and  our  material  for 
cartridges  was  exhausted,  we  were  left  destitute  of 
any  means  to  continue  the  contest.  We  had  eaten 
our  last  biscuit  thirty-six  hours  before.  We  came 
very  near  being  stifled  with  the  dense,  livid  smoke 
from  the  burning  buildings.  Many  of  the  men  lay 
prostrate  on  the  ground,  with  wet  handkerchiefs  over 
their  mouths  and  eyes,  gasping  for  breath.  It  was 
a  moment  of  imminent  peril.  If  an  eddy  of  wind 
had  not  ensued,  we  all  probably  should  have  been 
suffocated.  •The  crashing  of  the  shot,  the  bursting 
of  the  shells,  the  falling  of  the  walls,  and  the  roar 
of  the  flames,  made  a  Pandemonium  of  the  fort.  We, 
nevertheless,  kept  up  a  steady  fire." 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day  of  the  bom 
bardment,  Louis  T.  Wigfall,  late  a  United  States 
senator  from  Texas,  made  his  appearance  in  a  small 
boat,  with  a  white  flag,  and  was  admitted  ;  and  in  a 
conference  with  Major  Anderson  and  his  officers,  in 
sisted  that  further  resistance  was  useless.  The  fort 
was  on  fire,  the  garrison  exhausted,  with  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  floating  defiantly  over  the  ruins.  Another 
deputation  soon  arrived,  Wigfall  having  failed  to 
agree  with  Major  Anderson  on  the  terms  for  a  sur- 


40  VEKMONT   IN   THE 

render.  After  some  conference,  it  was  agreed  that 
the  garrison  should  surrender  the  fort,  taking  with 
them,  as  they  retired  at  their  leisure,  and  in  their 
own  way,  all  their  individual  and  company  property, 
their  side  arms,  and  their  tattered  flag,  which  they 
were  to  salute  with  a  hundred  guns,  before  they 
hauled  it  down. 

The  battle  ceased ;  the  fire  was  extinguished,  after 
destroying  almost  everything  combustible  in  the  fort. 
Next  morning,  about  nine  o'clock,  the  evacuation  took 
place,  while  the  guns  of  the  fort  boomed  a  salute  to 
the  lowering  flag,  which  had  been  so  bravely  defended 
against  the  unequal  foe.  The  garrison  marched  out 
of  the  main  gate,  preceded  by  the  band  playing 
"Yankee  Doodle"  and  "Hail  Columbia,"  with  the 
Stars  -and  Stripes  floating  over  them.  They  embarked 
on  board  the  United  States  ship  Baltic,  and  were 
carried  to  New  York,  where  they  met  with  an  enthu 
siastic  reception. 

That  seven  thousand  well  drilled  men,  with  all  the 
needed  appliances,  could  overcome  seventy,  out  of 
provisions,  —  for  they  had  eaten  their  last  biscuit,  — 
and  nearly  destitute  of  ammunition,  and  with  no  hope 
of  succor,  was  regarded  by  the  chivalry  of  South 
Carolina  as  a  most  wonderful  and  glorious  victory, 
and  as  establishing  beyond  dispute  the  independence 
of  the  Confederacy. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  41 

Arrived  at  New  York,  Major  Anderson  despatched 
to  his  government  the  following  report :  — 

"STEAMSHIP  BALTIC,  OFF  SANDY  HOOK, 

April  18,  1861, 
"THE  HON.  S.  CAMERON, 

"  Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C. 
"  Sir  :  Having  defended  Fort  Sumter  for  thirty-four 
hours,  until  the  quarters  were  entirely  burned,  the 
main  gates  destroyed,  the  gorge  wall  seriously  injured, 
the  magazine  surrounded  by  flames,  and  its  door 
closed  from  the  effects  of  the  heat,  four  barrels  and 
three  cartridges  of  powder  only  being  available,  and 
no  provisions  but  pork  remaining,  I  accepted  terms 
of  evacuation  offered  by  General  Beauregard  (being 
the  same  offered  by  him  on  the  llth  instant,  prior 
to  the  commencement  of  hostilities),  and  marched  out 
of  the  fort  on  Sunday  afternoon,  the  14th  instant, 
with  colors  flying  and  drums  beating,  bringing  away 
company  and  private  property,  and  saluting  my  flag 
with  fifty  guns. 

"ROBERT  ANDERSON, 

"Major  First  Artillery? 

On  the  next  day  after  the  evacuation  of  Fort 
Sumter,  April  15,  President  Lincoln  issued  a  call  for 
seventy-five  thousand  -volunteers  for  three  months' 
service,  and  called  an  extra  session  of  Congress  to 


42  VERMONT    IN    THE 

meet  on  the  ensuing  4th  of  July.  The  uprising  of 
the  freemen  of  the  North  was  such  as  the  world  never 
witnessed  before.  The  insult  to  the  old  honored  flag 
created  a  feeling  of  the  most  intense  indignation,  and 
all  party  lines  seemed  for  the  time  obliterated,  and 
two  parties  only  had  an  existence,  —  those  who  would 
destroy  the  Union,  on  the  one  hand,  and  those  who 
would  defend  and  preserve  it,  at  any  cost,  on  the 
other. 

There  were  many  who  believed  that  the  state  of 
feeling  which  had  resulted  in  an  open  rebellion  of  the 
slaveholders  against  the  government,  had  been  pro 
duced  by  extremists  both  at  the  North  and  the  South, 
instead  of  attributing  the  difficulty  to  its  true  cause, — 
the  wide  difference  between  a  society  of  educated 
freemen  and  a  society  of  slaveholders  and  slaves, 
where  only  the  few  were  educated ;  but  there  were 
none  in  the  free  States  who  openly  justified  the  assault 
upon  Fort  Sumter. 

On  the  15th  of  April  the  President  promulgated 
the  following 

"  PEOCLAMATION. 

"  Whereas,  the  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been 
for  some  time  past,  and  now  are,  opposed,  and  the 
execution  thereof  obstructed,  in  the  States  of  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Lou- 


GREAT   REBEXJJON.  43 

isiana,  and  Texas,  by  combinations,  too  powerful  to  be 
suppressed  by  the  ordinary  course  of  judicial  proceed 
ings,  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  the  marshals  by  law : 
Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the 
United  States,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by 
the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  have  thought  fit  to  call 
forth  the  militia  of  the  several  States  of  the  Union,  to 
the  aggregate  number  of  seventy-  five  thousand,  in 
order  to  suppress  said  combinations,  and  to  cause  the 
laws  to  be  duly  executed. 

"  The  details  of  this  object  will  be  immediately 
communicated  to  the  State  authorities,  through  the 
War  Department.  I  appeal  to  all  loyal  citizens  to 
favor,  facilitate,  and  aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the 
honor,  the  integrity,  and  existence  of  our  national 
Union,  and  the  perpetuity  of  popular  government, 
and  to  redress  wrongs  already  long  enough  endured. 
I  deem  it  proper  to  say,  that  the  first  service  assigned  to 
the  forces  hereby  called  forth,  will  probably  be  to  repos 
sess  the  forts,  places,  and  property  which  have  been 
seized  from  the  Union.  And,  in  every  event,  the  utmost 
care  will  be  observed,  consistently  with  the  objects 
aforesaid,  to  avoid  any  devastation,  any  destruction  of, 
or  interference  with,  property,  or  any  disturbance  of 
peaceful  citizens  of  any  part  of  the  country.  And  I 
hereby  command  the  persons  comprising  the  combina 
tions  aforesaid  to  disperse,  and  retire  peaceably  to 


44  VERMONT   IN    THE 

their  respective  abodes,  within  twenty  days  from  this 
date. 

"  Deeming  that  the  present  condition  of  public  af 
fairs  presents  an  extraordinary  occasion,  I  do  hereby, 
by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  Constitu 
tion,  convene  both  Houses  of  Congress.  The  Senators 
and  Representatives  are,  therefore,  summoned  to  as 
semble  at  their  respective  chambers,  at  twelve  o'clock, 
noon,  on  Thursday,  the  fourth  day  of  July  next,  then 
and  there  to  consider  and  determine  such  measures  as, 
in  their  wisdom,  the  public  safety  and  interest  may 
seem  to  demand. 

"  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand, 
and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  the  fifteenth  day 
of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  the  eighty-fifth. 

"ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"By  the  President: 

"  WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State" 

With  this  proclamation,  was  sent  from  the  War 
Department,  to  the  Governors  of  the  several  States,  a 
circular,  explaining  that  the  call  was  for  regiments  of 
infantry,  or  riflemen  only,  each  regiment  to  be  com 
posed  of  seven  hundred  and  eighty  men.  They  were 
apportioned  to  the  several  States  as  follows:  Maine, 


GEEAT   KEBELLION.  45 

New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut, 
Delaware,  Arkansas,  Michigan,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  and 
Wisconsin,  one  each;  Massachusetts,  Tennessee,  and 
North  Carolina,  two  each  ;  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  and 
Kentucky,  four  each;  Indiana  and  Illinois,  six  each; 
New  York,  seventeen;  Pennsylvania,  sixteen;  and 
Ohio,  thirteen.  These  ninety-four  regiments  would 
make  a  total  of  seventy-three  thousand  three  hun 
dred  and  twenty  men.  The  residue  of  the  seventy- 
five  thousand  was  to  be  furnished  by  the  District 
of  Columbia. 

The  Governors  of  the  States  of  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  Tennessee,  and  Kentucky  utterly  refused  to 
furnish  any  men  for  the  purpose  named  in  the  procla 
mation.  The  response  of  Governor  Harris,  of  Ten 
nessee,  was  as  follows,  and  may  be  taken  as  a  fair 
sample  of  the  replies  from  the  Governors  of  all  the 
above-named  States :  — 

"Tennessee  will  not  furnish  a  single  man  for  co 
ercion  ;  but  fifty  thousand,  if  necessary  for  the  defense 
of  our  rights,  and  those  of  our  brethren" 

Governor  Jackson,  of  Missouri,  in  reply  to  the  call, 
said,  — 

"It  is  illegal,  unconstitutional,  revolutionary,  inhu 
man,  diabolical,  and  cannot  be  complied  with.  Not 
one  man  will  the  State  of  Missouri  furnish  to  carry  on 
so  unholy  a  crusade." 


46  VERMONT   IN   THE 

Governor  Burton,  of  Delaware,  took  until  the  26th 
of  April  to  consider  the  matter,  and  then  replied,  that 
"The  laws  of  this  State  do  not  confer  upon  the  Exec 
utive  any  authority  allowing  him  to  comply  with  such 
requisition." 

Governor  Hicks,  of  Maryland,  though  claiming  to  be 
a  Unionist  himself,  and  that  his  State  was  still  in  the 
Union,  gave  the  Union  cause  but  a  very  cold  support 
when  called  upon  for  troops  to  uphold  it.  On  the  18th 
of  April  he  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  people  of 
Maryland,  assuring  them  that  he  should  do  all  in  his 
power  to  preserve  "the  honor  and  integrity  of  the 
State,  and  to  maintain  within  her  limits  that  peace  so 
earnestly  desired  by  all  good  citizens."  And  adding, 
"  No  troops  will  be  sent  from  Maryland,  unless  it  may 
be  for  the  defense  of  the  national  capital." 

On  the  17th  of  April,  Jefferson  Davis,  the  head  of  a 
band  of  conspirators  and  rebels,  issued  a  proclamation, 
authorizing  privateers  to  be  fitted  out  .from  all  parts 
of  the  South,  to  prey  upon  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States,  and  this,  too,  when  the  North  had 
been  robbed  by  these  conspirators  of  its  entire  naval 
force,  and  had  not  half  a  dozen  vessels  which  could  be 
called  into  our  waters  to  protect  our  merchant  marine. 

As  a  protection  against  this  piratical  proclamation, 
President  Lincoln,  on  the  19th  of  April,  announced 
the  blockade  of  all  the  ports  of  the  seceded  States. 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  47 

As  if  by  magic  a  naval  force  sprang  into  existence,  and 
in  less  than  ninety  days  over  three  hundred  armed  ves 
sels  of  war  were  sailing  beneath  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
with  brave  men  upon  their  decks,  ready  to  avenge  any 
insult  to  their  honored  flag. 

About  this  time  there  was  a  determination  on  the 
part  of  leading  rebels  to  capture  the  City  of  Washing 
ton  at  all  hazards.  The  Richmond  Examiner,  of 
April  23d,  said,  "  The  capture  of  Washington  City  is 
perfectly  within  the  power  of  Virginia  and  Maryland, 
if  Virginia  will  only  make  the  effort  by  her  constituted 
authorities.  The  entire  population  pant  for  the  onset. 
Our  people  can  take  it;  they  will  take  it;  and  Scott, 
the  arch-traitor,  and  Lincoln,  the  beast,  combined,  can 
not  prevent  it." 

It  has  been  conclusively  proved  that  the  following 
was  the  plot  for  the  capture  of  the  capital  of  the 
nation,  with  all  the  public  property.  A  conspiracy  was 
formed  by  leading  Virginians,  with  prominent  seces 
sionists  in  Washington,  and  a  band  of  traitors  of 
influence  and  wealth  in  Baltimore,  to  accomplish  the 
infamous  and  cowardly  act  in  the  following  manner : 
Virginia  did  not  then  pretend  to  be  out  of  the  Union, 
and  was  fully  represented  in  both  branches  of  Congress. 
The  Virginians,  at  the  head  of  between  two  and  three 
thousand  desperate  men,  were  to  make  a  descent  upon 
Harper's  Ferry,  seize  the  arsenal  there,  which  contained 


48  VERMONT   IN   THE 

twenty-five  thousand  stand  of  arms,  and  thus  supply 
themselves  with  an  abundance  of  weapons  and  ammu 
nition.  They  were  then  to  descend  the  Potomac  to 
Washington,  and  make  a  fierce  onset  in  the  streets  of 
the  city.  Traitors  there,  in  strong  bands,  armed  to 
the  teeth,  were  prepared  to  receive  them.  Incendiaries 
were  designated  to  fire  the  city  at  several  points 
Amid  the  terror  and  confusion  of  this  sudden  assault, 
the  conspirators  were  to  seize  the  most  important  gov 
ernment  buildings,  and  convert  them  into  fortresses, 
where  they  could  defy  any  immediate  attack  from  the 
bewildered  government,  and  whence  they  could  com 
mand  the  city. 

While  all  this  was  being  done,  the  conspirators  in 
Baltimore  were  to  cut  off  all  communication  with  the 
North,  by  burning  bridges,  tearing  up  railways,  and 
seizing  the  post-office  and  telegraph  stations.  Should 
troops  attempt  to  reach  Washington  from  the  North, 
a  mob  was  to  destroy  them  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore. 
Troops  were  to  rush  from  the  South  to  the  captured 
city,  and  occupy  all  important  military  stations.  Vir 
ginia  and  Maryland  were  thus  to  be  dragged  into 
secession,  and  Washington  w«,s  to  be  the  capital  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy. 

When  this"  damnable  plot  was  discovered,  just  on 
the  eve  of  its  execution,  it  seemed  almost  impossible 
for  the  government  to  thwart  it.  Washington  was 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  49 

filled  with  traitors  and  rebels ;  no  reliance  could  be 
placed  upon  the  militia ;  Southern  traitors  were  occu 
pying  the  most  important  posts  in  the  army,  and  the 
government  did  not  know  who  could  be  trusted.  The 
government  seemed  surrounded  with  difficulties,  from 
which  there  seemed  to  be  no  way  of  extrication  ;  and 
the  North,  though  burning  to  avenge  the  insult  upon 
the  flag  in  the  unprovoked  attack  upon  Sumter,  had 
not  begun  to  comprehend  the  extent  of  the  danger  to 
the  national  capital,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  they  do  now, 
or  ever  will,  since  the  government  passed  the  crisis 
more  easily  than  the  most  sanguine  had  reason  to  hope 
it  would. 

This  plot  was  made  known  on  the  18th  of  April, 
confidentially,  to  the  loyal  people  of  Washington,  and 
gentlemen  temporarily  there,  who  were  known  to  be 
friends  of  the  Union.  A  gentleman  who  was  there, 
and  took  part  in  the  transactions,  says,  — 

"  A  few  trusty  friends  of  the  government,  visitors  in 
Washington,  immediately  commenced  vigorous,  but 
secret  measures,  to  assist  the  administration  in  this 
fearful  crisis.  They  hastened,  by  committees,  to  all 
the  hotels,  and  sought  out  those  known  to  be  true  to 
the  Union,  informed  them  of  the  peril,  and  appointed 
a  meeting  that  very  evening,  in  the  church  in  the  rear 
of  Willard's  Hotel,  where  they  would  not  attract  at 
tention.  Solemnly,  and  with  intense  emotion,  they 
4 


50  VERMONT    IN   THE 

administered  the  oath  anew,  of  fidelity  to  the  national 
flag,  to  every  one  to  whom  they  confided  the  secret, 
and  then  gave  to  each  the  pass  which  would  admit 
him  to  the  church.  This  work  was  speedily  accom 
plished,  for  there  was  not  a  moment  to  be  lost,  and 
soon  about  two  hundred  men  were  assembled  in  the 
church. 

"  After  listening  to  a  few  words  of  eloquence,  which 
yet  burn  in  the  souls  of  some  of  the  volunteers  in  that 
dark  night  of  the  nation's  peril,  the  company  formed 
themselves  into  the  noted  '  CASSIUS  M.  CLAY  BAT 
TALION.'  These  noble  men,  many  of  whom  were 
among  the  most  distinguished  for  wealth  and  posi 
tion  to  be  found  in  our  land,  were  enrolled  under  ef 
ficient  officers  into  small  patrol  parties,  and  marched 
all  night  long  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  to  guard 
against  incendiaries,  and  to.  prevent  the  assembling  of 
conspirators.  They  had  orders  to  shoot  down  prompt 
ly  any  who  should  resist  their  authority." 

Another  party  of  three  hundred  men  were  also  ap 
pointed,  under  General  Lane,  to  go  unobserved  to  the 
White  House,  and  bivouac  in  the  East  Room,  ready  to 
give  a  warm  reception  to  any  parties  who  might  make 
a  sudden  attack  upon  the  Presidential  Mansion.  For 
three  weeks  the  East  Room  was  thus  occupied.  Gen 
eral  Scott  promptly  took  unobserved  possession  of  the 
Capitol,  with  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  maintain  a 


GREAT   REBELLION.  61 

desperate  defense,  where  were  deposited  great  quanti 
ties  of  military  stores  and  provisions.  Thus  was  the 
White  House  and  the  Capitol  to  be  held  until  troops 
from  the  North  could  fight  their  way  through  Mary 
land  for  their  rescue  if  besieged.  The  greatest  care 
was  exercised  by  the  government  to  guard  against 
surprise. 

At  ten  o'clock,  on  the  night  of  the  19th,  Lieuten 
ant  Jones,  of  the  United  States  army,  who  was  in 
command  at  Harper's  Ferry,  with  but  forty-three 
men,  received  reliable  information  that  Governor 
Letcher,  of  Virginia,  had  sent  three  thousand  State 
troops,  via  Winchester,  and  that  they  would  reach 
Harper's  Ferry  in  two  hours;  and  that  three  hundred 
troops,  from  Hallstown,  were  within  twenty  minutes' 
march  of  the  arsenal.  Combustibles  had  been  pre 
viously  prepared,  and  everything  in  readiness  to  blow 
up  the  arsenal  and  other  buildings  of  the  armory, 
should  he  find  the  enemy  coming  upon  him  in  over 
whelming  numbers.  In  a  trice  the  torch  was  applied, 
and  the  buildings  were  all  in  a  blaze,  and  Lieutenant 
Jones,  with  his  forty-three  men,  retreated  across  the 
bridge  into  Maryland,  and,  after  marching  all  night, 
reached  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  safe 
from  attack  from  the  traitors.  The  secessionists  at  the 
Ferry  rushed  to  the  arsenal,  and  vainly  attempted  to 
extinguish  the  flames.  In  their  rage,  they  pursued  the 


52  VERMONT   IN    THE 

heroic  band,  and,  firing  upon  them,  killed  two  of  their 
number.  Before  morning  nearly  five  thousand  Vir 
ginia  troops  were  in  possession  of  the  ruins  at  Harper's 
Ferry. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  a  convention  in  Virginia 
secretly  passed  an  ordinance  of  secession,  which  was 
for  a  time  kept  from  the  knowledge  of  the  community, 
that  more  effectual  measures  might  be  adopted  for 
seizing  the  government  property  and  fortifications  in 
that  State,  though  a  private  messenger  was  sent  to 
inform  the  Confederate  government  of  the  action  of 
the  convention. 

Government  property,  to  the  amount  of  many  mil 
lions  of  dollars,  was  accumulated  at  Norfolk  Navy 
Yard,  including  machine-shops,  founderies,  store 
houses,  together  with  immense  amounts  of  naval  and 
military  stores,  the  whole  estimated  as  worth  over  nine 
millions  of  dollars.  The  new  steam-frigate  Merrimac, 
the  Pennsylvania,  the  largest  line-of-battle  ship  in  the 
world,  the  Germantown,  vthe  Dolphin,  and  other  war 
vessels,  were  floating  in  the  harbor.  By  order  of  Gov 
ernor  Letcher,  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of  April,  a 
large  number  of  boats,  laden  with  stone,  were  sunk  in 
the  channel,  so  that  these  large  vessels  could  not  pass 
out,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  seizing  the  yard. 
Captain  McCaulay  was  in  command  of  the  yard,  and 
most  of  the  sub-officers  were  traitors. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  53 

It  became  evident  that  the  yard  could  not  be  held, 
but  that  it  must  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and 
it  was  determined  to  destroy  it;  and  the  steamship 
Pawnee  was  sent  from  Fortress  Monroe  to  aid  in  the 
work.  When  she  appeared  at  Norfolk,  she  met  with 
a  most  enthusiastic  welcome  from  the  crews  of  the 
Pennsylvania,  and  other  war  vessels  lying  there.  The 
Pawnee  arrived,  and  made  fast  to  the  dock  at  Norfolk 
about  nine  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  21st  of  April, 
immediately  landed  her  troops,  and  seized  the  gates  of 
the  yard,  so  that  no  traitors  could  enter.  Everything 
of  value  was  removed  from  the  Pennsylvania.  What 
could  not  be  removed  was  thrown  overboard,  and 
every  preparation  made  for  a  great  conflagration.  At 
four  o'clock  next  morning,  all  the  men  from  the  yard, 
except  a  few  left  to  fire  the  trains,  which  had  been 
carefully  laid,  were  taken  on  board  the  Cumber 
land  and  Pawnee,  and  the  former  took  the  latter  vessel 
in  tow.  At  a  given  signal  the  torch  was  applied,  and 
everything  combustible,  including  the  Pennsylvania 
and  several  other  war  vessels,  was  destroyed. 

To  put  down  this  well-planned  and  most  wicked 
rebellion,  the  North,  as  one  man,  nobly  responded  to 
the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  troops.  On  the  even 
ing  of  the  eighteenth,  four  hundred  Pennsylvania  vol 
unteers  reached  Washington.  On  the  same  day  the 
Sixth  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  volunteers  left  Bos- 


54  VERMONT   IN   THE 

ton  for  Washington,  and  arrived  at  Baltimore  on  the 
19th,  where  they  were  joined  by  a  regiment  from 
Philadelphia.  The  Philadelphia  regiment  was  without 
arms,  and  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  was  but  partially 
armed. 

In  passing  from  one  railroad  station  to  another  in 
Baltimore,  a  distance  of  two  arid  a  half  miles,  the  cars 
had  to  be  drawn  by  horses.  The  Massachusetts  and 
Philadelphia  troops  occupied  seventeen  cars.  The  five 
foremost  cars,  containing  a  portion  of  the  Massachusetts 
troops,  were  sent  forward.  There  being  no  horses  for 
the  other  cars,  the  residue  of  the  regiment,  of  whom 
but  a  small  portion  were  armed,  left  the  cars  and 
formed  in  the  street,  waiting  the  arrival  of  horses. 
None  came,  for  a  secession  mob  which  filled  the  streets 
had  covered  the  track,  immediately  behind  the  cars 
which  had  been  sent  forward,  with  heavy  timbers, 
anchors,  stones,  and  other  obstructions,  to  prevent  the 
passage  of  the  other  cars.  The  residue  of  the  regiment 
were  assailed  by  the  mob  with  showers  of  stones  and 
other  missiles,  hurled  from  the  streets  and  house-tops, 
and  several  soldiers  were  knocked  down  and  badly 
injured.  In  the  confusion,  one  of  the  rioters  stepped 
up  behind  a  young  soldier,  seized  his  gun,  and  shot  him 
dead.  At  this  the  soldiers  were  ordered  to  fire,  and 
those  who  had  loaded  muskets  obeyed  the  order,  with 
some  effect,  which  caused  the  mob  to  recoil.  The 


GREAT   REBELLION.  55 

soldiers,  learning  that  the  track  had  been  obstructed, 
commenced  their  march  from  the  Camden  to  the 
Washington  depot,  surrounded  and  followed  by  the 
mob,  preceded  by  Mayor  Brown  and  a  strong  de 
tachment  of  police.  The  mob  closed  in,  and  attempt 
ed  to  cut  off  a  portion  of  the  rear,  which  being  hardly 
pressed  was  ordered  to  fire,  which  they  did.  Several 
volleys  were  fired  by  a  small  portion  of  the  regiment, 
killing  eleven  and  wounding  four  of  the  rioters. 
Three  soldiers  were  killed  and  eight  seriously  injured. 
The  Massachusetts  regiment  finally  reached  the  Wash 
ington  depot,  and  were  sent  forward  to  Washington. 
The  train  was  repeatedly  fired  at  from  the  hills  and 
woods  along  the  route,  but  no  one  was  injured.  The 
Philadelphia  regiment  having  no  arms,  after  a  hand- 
to-hand  fight  with  the  mob,  returned  to  that  city. 

The  telegraph  wires  connecting  Baltimore  and  the 
free  States  were  cut,  and  the  railroad  bridges  north 
ward  and  north-westward  from  Baltimore,  on  the 
railroads  to  Philadelphia  and  Harrisburg,  were  burned, 
thus  shutting  off  Washington  from  all  communication 
with  the  Northern  States.  In  the  mean  time,  how 
ever,  the  North  was  making  all  possible  haste  in 
enlisting,  arming,  equipping,  and  making  ready  for 
the  field  her  noble  and  patriotic  sons. 


56  VERMONT    IN    THE 


ACTION  OF  VERMONT. 


THE  breaking  out  of  the  slaveholders'  rebellion, 
found  the  militia  of  Vermont,  as  in  most  of  the 
other  Northern  States,  in  a  disorganized  and  ineffi 
cient  condition.  The  enrollment  required  by  law 
was  imperfect,  many  towns  having  neglected  to 
make  returns,  and  there  were  no  records  from  which 
the  number  of  men  required  by  statute  to  perform 
military  duty  in  case  of  insurrection  or  invasion 
could  be  ascertained  with  any  degree  of  accuracy. 
In  the  adjutant-general's  office  were  the  names  of 
twenty-two  organized  uniformed  companies,  all  of 
which  were  deficient  in  numbers,  and  some  were 
without  arms. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  on  the  15th  of  April, 
when  President  Lincoln  called  for  seventy-five  thou 
sand  volunteers  for  three  months,  to  suppress  an 
insurrection  against  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  which  had  broken  out  in  the  States  of  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi, 


GREAT    REBELLION.  57 

Louisiana,  and  Texas.  On  that  day  Governor  Eras- 
tus  Fairbanks  received  a  copy  of  the  call  for  troops, 
—  the  quota  of  Vermont  being  one  regiment, — 
and  immediately  issued  the  proper  orders  to  H.  H. 
Baxter,  of  Rutland,  Adjutant  and  Inspector  Gen 
eral,  and  called  an  extra  session  of  the  Legisla 
ture,  to  commence  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month, 
to  adopt  measures  for  the  State  to  do  promptly 
its  share  toward  meeting  the  exigencies  of  the 
country,  by  organizing,  uniforming,  arming,  and 
equipping  the  militia  within  her  borders. 

The  members  of  the  Legislature  responded  with 
alacrity  to  the  call  of  the  Governor.  They  enacted 
a  law,  giving  to  each  member  of  a  uniformed  mili 
tary  company  who  should  be  called  into  the  ser 
vice  of  the  United  States,  under  the  requisition 
of  the  President,  seven  dollars  per  month  in 
addition  to  the  pay  allowed  by  the  United  States 
government,  which  was  afterwards  construed  so  as 
to  include  all  troops  from  the  State ;  —  and  that 
each  member  of  a  uniformed  company,  held  in 
readiness  for  active  service,  should  be  paid  eighteen 
dollars  per  month  by  the  State  of  Vermont.  They 
also  enacted  another  law  for  the  relief  of  families 
of  volunteers;  and  another,  making  an  appropria 
tion  of  one  million  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  more 
perfectly  organizing,  arming,  equipping,  drilling,  and 


58  VERMONT   IN   THE 

providing  for  the  militia  of  the  State,  and  for 
other  purposes  connected  with  the  suppression  of 
the  rebellion.  Also  another  "act  to  provide  for 
raising  six  special  regiments  for  immediate  service,  for 
defending  and  protecting  the  Constitution  and  the 
Union." 

George  J.  Stannard  of  St.  Albans,  then  Colonel 
of  the  Fourth  regiment,  Vermont  militia,  and  second 
ranking  colonel  in  the  State,  was  the  first  man 
who  offered  his  services  to  put  down  the  rebellion. 
Immediately  on  the  assault  upon  Fort  Surnter,  he 
corresponded  with  commanders  of  companies  in  his 
regiment,  and  having  obtained  their  approval,  ten 
dered  his  services,  with  his  regiment,  in  any  place 
that  they  might  be  required  to  defend  the  flag.  The 
tender  was  made  by  telegraph  to  Governor  Fairbanks, 
and  also  to  General  Jackman,  who  was  commander 
of  all  the  Vermont  militia.  The  regiment  was  for 
mally  accepted,  but  it  was  subsequently  decided 
that  the  first  regiment  called  for  should  be  made 
up  from  all  the  volunteer  militia  of  the  State,  and 
the  Adjutant  General  selected  the  companies  to  com 
pose  it,  as  follows :  — 

FIRST    REGIMENT. 

Colonel,  J.  Wolcott  Phelps  of  Brattleboro';  Lieut.- 
Colonel,  Peter  T.  Washburn  of  Woodstock;  Major, 
Hurry  N.  Worthen  of  Bradford. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  59 

Co.  A,  Green  Mountain  Guards,  Swanton.  Captain, 
Lawrence  D.  Clark;  First  Lieut.,  Albert  B.  Jewett; 
Second  Lieut.,  John  D.  Sheriden. 

Co.  B,  Woodstock  Light  Infantry,  Woodstock. 
Captain,  William  W.  Pelton  ;  First  Lieut.,  Andrew 
J.  Dike;  Second  Lieut.,  Solomon  E.  Woodward. 

Co.  C,  Ransom  Guards,  St.  Albans.  Captain, 
Charles  G.  Chandler ;  First  Lieut.,  Hiram  E.  Perkins ; 
Second  Lieut.,  Freeborn  E.  Bell. 

Co.  D,  Bradford  Guards,  Bradford.  Captain,  Dud 
ley  K.  Andros;  First  Lieut.,  John  B.  Pickett; 
Second  Lieut.,  Roswell  Farnham. 

Co.  E,  Cavendish  Light  Infantry,  Cavendish. 
Captain,  Oscar  S.  Tuttle ;  First  Lieut.,  Asaph  Clark ; 
Second  Lieut.,  Salmon  Dutton. 

Co.   F,    New   England   Guards,   Northfield.     Cap 
tain,   William  H.  Boynton ;   First  Lieut.,  Charles 
Webb;   Second   Lieut.,  Francis  B.   Gove. 

Co.  G,  Allen  Guards,  Brandon.  Captain,  Joseph 
Bush;  First  Lieut.,  William  Cronan ;  Second  Lieut., 
Ebenezer  J.  Ormsbee. 

Co.  H,  Howard  Guards,  Burlington.  Captain, 
David  B.  Peck;  First  Lieut.,  Oscar  G.  Mower; 
Second  Lieut.,  George  J.  Hagar. 

Co.  I,  Union  Guards,  Middlebury.  Captain,  Ebeii 
S.  Hayward ;  First  Lieut.,  Charles  W.  Rose ;  Second 
Lieut.,  Orville  W.  Heath. 


9-  I 

0. 


60  VEBMONT    IN    THE 

Co.  K,  Rutland  Light  Infantry,  Rutland.  Cap 
tain,  William  Y.  W.  Ripley ;  First  Lieut.,  George 
T.  Roberts ;  Second  Lieut.,  Levi  G.  Kingsley. 

The  companies  rendezvoused  at  Rutland  on  the 
2d  of  May,  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser 
vice  on  the  9th,  and  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of  war 
on  the  same  day.  The  regiment  arrived  at  Fortress 
Monroe  on  the  13th,  and  on  the  27th  removed  to 
Newport  News,  Va.,  where  it  remained  until  the 
5th  of  August.  On  the  10th  of  June,  companies 
B,  D,  F,  H,  and  K,  under  command  of  Lieut.-Col. 
Washburn,  were  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Big 
Bethel,  and  did  good  service.  On  the  arrival  of 
the  regiment  at  Newport  News,  Colonel  Phelps 
was  made  commander  of  the  post,  and  remained 
there  after  the  regiment  returned  home,  and  was 
subsequently  appointed  Brigadier  General.  On  the 
5th  of  August,  the  regiment,  under  command  of 
Lieut.-Colonel  Washburn,  left  Newport  News  for 
Brattleboro',  where  it  went  into  camp,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  service  on  the  loth.  Most  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  this  regiment  afterwards  entered 
other  organizations,  and  served  with  distinction 
during  the  war. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  the  President  called  for 
twenty  thousand  volunteers  for  three  years.  Under 
this  call,  orders  were  issued  for  raising  by  enlist- 


GREAT    REBELLION".  61 

ment,  the    Second    and    Third  Regiments,   to   serve 
for  three   years   or  during  the    war. 

SECOND    REGIMENT. 

The  following  were  the  field  and  line  officers, 
the  companies  and  their  locations,  which  composed 
this  regiment :  — 

Colonel  Henry  Whiting ;'  Lieut.  Colonel,  George 
J.  Stannard ;  Major,  Charles  H.  Joyce. 

Co.  A,  Bennington.  Captain,  James  H.  Wai- 
bridge  ;  First  Lieut.,  Newton  Stone ;  Second  Lieut., 
William  H.  Cady. 

Co.  B,  Castleton.  Captain,  James  Hope;  First 
Lieut.,  John  Howe  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Enoch  Johnson. 

Co.  C,  Brattleboro'.  Captain,  Edward  A.  Todd ; 
First  Lieut.,  John  S.  Tyler;  Second  Lieut.,  Henry 
C.  Campbell. 

Co.  D,  Waterbury.  Captain,  Charles  Dillingham; 
First  Lieut.,  William  W.  Henry;  Second  Lieut., 
Charles  C.  Gregg. 

Co.  E,  Tunbridge.  Captain,  Richard  Smith; 
First  Lieut.,  Lucius  C.  Whitney;  Second  Lieut., 
Orville  Bixby. 

Co.  F,  Montpelier.  Captain,  Francis  V.  Randall; 
First  Lieut.,  Walter  A.  Phillips;  Second  Lieut., 
Horace  F.  Grossman. 

Co.   G,   Burlington.    Captain,  John  T.  Drew;  First 


62  VERMONT    IN    THE 

Lieut.,  David  L.  Sharplcy;  Second  Lieut.,  Anson 
II.  Weed. 

Co.  H.,  Fletcher.  Captain,  William  T.  Burn- 
ham;  First  Lieut.,  Jerome  B.  Case;  Second  Lieut., 
Charles  K.  Leach. 

Co.  L,  Ludlow,  Captain,  Volney  S.  Fullam;  First 
Lieut.,  Sherman  W.  Parkhurst;  Second  Lieut.,  Isaac 
N.  Wadleigh. 

Co.  K.,  Vergennes.  Captain,  Solon  Eaton;  First 
Lieut.,  Amasa  S.  Tracy;  Second  Lieut.,  Jonathan 
M.  Hoyt. 

This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Burlington,  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1861,  and  consisted  of  eight  hun 
dred  and  sixty-eight  officers  and  men.  It  left  the 
State  for  the  seat  of  war  on  the  24th  of  June, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run 
on  the  21st  of  July,  1861.  This,  together  with  the 
Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  Regiments,  consti 
tuted  the  "Vermont  Brigade,"  a  more  particular 
account  of  the  operations  of  which  is  given  in 
another  place. 

THIRD    REGIMENT. 

The  following  were  the  field  and  line  officers, 
the  companies  and  their  locations,  which  composed 
this  regiment :  — 


GREAT    REBELLION.  63 

Colonel,  William  F.  Smith;  Lieut.  Colonel,  Breed 
N.  Hyde;  Major,  Walter  W.  Cochran. 

Co.  A,  Springfield.  Captain,  Wheelock  G.  Veazey; 
First  Lieut.,  Frederick  Grain;  Second  Lieut.,  Horace 
W.  Floyd. 

Co.  B,  Coventry.  Captain,  Augustine  C.  West; 
First  Lieut.,  Enoch  H.  Bartlett ;  Second  Lieut., 
John  H.  Coburn. 

Co.  C,  Wells  River.  Captain,  David  T.  Corbin; 
First  Lieut.,  Danford  C.  Haviland;  Second  Lieut., 
Edwin  M.  Noyes. 

Co.  D,  Charleston.  Captain,  Fernando  C.  Har 
rington  ;  First  Lieut.,  Daniel  J.  Kenneson ;  Second 
Lieut.,  Charles  Bishop. 

Co.  E,  Johnson.  Captain,  Andrew  J.  Blanchard ; 
First  Lieut.,  Robert  D.  Whittemore;  Second  Lieut., 
Burr  J.  Austin. 

Co.  F,  Hartford.  Captain,  Thomas  O.  Seaver;  First 
Lieut,  Samuel  E.  Pingree ;  Second  Lieut.,  Edward  A. 
Chandler. 

Co.  G,  St.  Johnsbury.  Captain,  Lorenzo  D.  Allen  ; 
First  Lieut.,  John  H.  Hutchinson  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Moses 
F.  Brown. 

Co.  H,  St.  Albans.  Captain,  Thomas  F.  House ;  First 
Lieut.,  Waterman  F.  Corey ;  Second  Lieut.,  Romeo  H. 
Start; 

Co.  I,  Guildhall.     Captain,   Thomas  Nelson;   First 


64  VERMONT   IN   THE 

Lieut.,  James  Powers ;  Second  Lieut.,  Alexander  W. 
Beattie. 

Co.  K,  Calais.  Captain,  Elon  O.  Hammond;  First 
Lieut.,  Amasa  T.  Smith ;  Second  Lieut.,  Alonzo  E. 
Pierce. 

This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Johnsbury,  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the  15th  of 
July,  1861,  and  consisted  of  eight  hundred  and  eighty- 
two  officers  and  men.  It  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of 
war  on  the  26th  of  July,  and  formed  a  part  of  the 
"Vermont  Brigade." 

FOURTH  REGIMENT. 

The  field  and  line  officers  of  the  Fourth  Regiment 
were  as  follows :  — 

Colonel,  Edwin  H.  Stoughton  ;  Lieut.  Colonel,  Harry 
N.  Worthen  ;  Major,  John  C.  Tyler. 

Co.  A.  Captain,  John  E.  Pratt ;  First  Lieut.,  Albert 
K.  Parsons;  Second  Lieut,  Gideon  H.  Benton. 

Co.  B.  Captain,  James  H.  Platt,  Jr. ;  First  Lieut., 
Albert  K.  Nichols ;  Second  Lieut.,  Samuel  II.  Cham- 
berlin. 

Co.  C.  Captain,  Henry  B.  Atherton  ;  First  Lieut., 
George  B.  French ;  Second  Lieut.,  Daniel  D.  Wheeler. 

Co.  D.  Captain,  George  Tucker ;  First  Lieut.,  Geo. 
W.  Quimby ;  Second  Lieut.,  John  H.  Bishop. 

Co.  E.  Captain,  Henry  L.  Terry ;  First  Lieut., 
Stephen  M.  Pingree  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Daniel  Lillie. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  65 

Co.  F.  Captain,  Addis  on  Brown,  Jr. ;  First  Lieut., 
William  C.  Holbrook  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Daniel  W.  Farr. 

Co.  G. -  Captain,  George  P.  Foster;  First  Lieut., 
Henry  H.  Hill;  Second  Lieut.,  Joseph  W.  D.  Car 
penter. 

Co.  H.  Captain,  Robert  W.  Laird ;  First  Lieut., 
Albert  W.  Fisher ;  Second  Lieut.,  J.  Byron  Brooks. 

Co.  I.  Captain,  Leonard  A.  Stearns;  First  Lieut., 
Levi  M.  Tucker ;  Second  Lieut.,  Albert  A.  Allard. 

Co.  K.  Captain,  Frank  B.  Gove ;  First  Lieut., 
Charles  W.  Boutin  ;  Second  Lieut.,  William  C.  Tracy. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  rendezvoused  at  Brattleboro', 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the 
21st  of  September,  1861,  numbering  ten  hundred  and 
forty-two  men,  and  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of  war 
the  same  day.  This  regiment  was  also  joined  to  the 
"Vermont  Brigade." 

FIFTH  REGIMENT. 

The  following  were  the  field  and  line  officers,  and 
the  companies  and  their  locations,  which  formed  the 
Fifth  Regiment :  — 

Colonel,  Henry  A.  Smalley  ;  Lieut.  Colonel,  Nathan 
Lord,  Jr. ;  Major,  Lewis  A.  Grant. 

Co.  A,  St.  Albans.     Captain,  Charles  G.  Chandler  ; 
First  Lieut.,  Alonzo  E-.  Hurlburt ;  Second  Lieut.,  Lu 
cius  M.  D.  Smith. 
5 


66  VERMONT    IN    THE 

Co.  B,  Middlebury.  Captain,  Charles  W.  Rose; 
First  Lieut.,  Wilson  D.  Wright ;  Second  Lieut.,  Olney 
A.  Comstock. 

Co.  C,  Swanton.  Captain,  John  D.  Sheridan ;  First 
Lieut.,  Friend  H.  Barney;  Second  Lieut.,  Jesse  A. 
Jewett. 

Co.  D,  Hydepark.  Captain,  Reuben  C.  Benton  ; 
First  Lieut.,  James  W.  Stiles  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Samuel 
Sumner,  Jr. 

Co.  E,  Manchester.  Captain,  Charles  P.  Dudley ; 
First  Lieut.,  William  H.  H.  Peck;  Second  Lieut.,  Sam 
uel  E.  Burnham. 

Co.  F,  Cornwall.  Captain,  Edwin  S.  Stowcll ;  First 
Lieut.,  Cyrus  R.  Crane ;  Second  Lieut.,  Eugene  A. 
Hamilton. 

Co.  G,  Rutland.  Captain,  Benjamin  R.  Jenne  ;  First, 
Lieut.,  Charles  T.  Allchinn  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Martin  J. 
McManus. 

Co.  H,  Brandon.  Captain,  Charles  W.  Seagar ;  First 
Lieut.,  Cornelius  H.  Forbes;  Second  Lieut.,  Charles  J. 
Ormsbee. 

Co.  I,  Burlington.  Captain,  John  R.  Lewis;  First 
Lieut.,  William  P.  Spalding;  Second  Lieut.,  Henry 
Ballard. 

Co.  K,  Richmond.  Captain,  Frederick  F.  Gleason ; 
First  Lieut.,  William  Symons ;  Second  Lieut.,  George 
J.  Hatch. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  67 

This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Albans,  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the  16th 
of  September,  1861,  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of  war 
on  the  same  day,  and  consisted  of  ten  hundred  and 
six  officers  and  men.  It  also  formed  a  part  of  the 
"  Vermont  Brigade." 

SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

The  following  were  the  field  and  line  officers,  and 
the  companies  constituting  the  Sixth  Regiment :  — 

Colonel,  Nathaniel  Lord,  Jr. ;  Lieut.  Colonel,  Asa  P. 
Blunt ;  Major,  Oscar  S.  Tuttle. 

Co.  A.  Captain,  George  Parker,  Jr.;  First  Lieut., 
Riley  O.  Bird ;  Second  Lieut.,  Frank  G.  Butterfield. 

Co.  B.  Captain,  Alonzo  B.  Hutchinson ;  First 
Lieut.,  La  Marquis  Tubbs  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Bernard  D. 
Fabyan. 

Co.  C.  Captain,  Jesse  C.  Spaulding;  First  Lieut., 
George  C.  Randall ;  Second  Lieut.,  Hiram  A.  Kimball. 

Co.  D.  Captain,  Oscar  A.  Hale ;  First  Lieut.,  George 
II.  Phelps  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Carlos  W.  Dwinnell. 

Co.  E.  Captain,  Edward  W.  Barker ;  First  Lieut., 
Thomas  R.  Clark  ;  Second  Lieut.,  Frank  B.  Bradbury. 

Co.  F.  Captain,  Edwin  F.  Reynolds  ;  First  Lieut., 
Elijah  Whitney;  Second  Lieut.,  Denison  A.  Raxford. 

Co.  G.  Captain,  William  H.  H.  Hall ;  First  Lieut, 
Alfred  M.  Nevins ;  Second  Lieut.,  Edwin  C.  Lewis. 


68 


VERMONT    IN    THE 


Co.  H.  Captain,  David  B.  Davenport ;  First  Lieut., 
Robinson  Templeton ;  Second  Lieut.,  Luther  Ains- 
worth. 

Co.  I.  Captain,  Wesley  Hazelton  ;  First  Lieut.,  Wil 
liam  B.  Reynolds ;  Second  Lieut.,  Edwin  R.  Kinney. 

Co.  K.  Captain,  Elisha  L.  Barney;  First  Lieut., 
Lucius  Green;  Second  Lieut.,  Alfred  H.  Keith. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  rendezvoused  at  Montpelier, 
was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the 
15th  of  October,  1861,  left  for  the  seat  of  war  on  the 
20th  of  the  same  month,  consisted  of  nine  hundred 
and  seventy-one  officers  and  men,  and  formed  a  part 
of  the  "Vermont  Brigade." 

SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

The  following  were  the  field  and  line  officers,  and 
the  companies,  and  their  locations,  which  composed 
the  Seventh  Regiment :  — 

Colonel,  George  T.  Roberts ;  Lieut.  Colonel,  Yolney 
S.  Fullam;  Major,  William  C.  Holbrook. 

Co.  A,  Burlington.  Captain,  David  B.  Peck  ;  First 
Lieut.,  Heman  Austin ;  Second  Lieut.,  Hiram  B.  Fish. 

Co.  B,  Brandon.  Captain,  William  Cronan ;  First 
Lieut.,  Darwin  A.  Smalley ;  Second  Lieut.,  Jackson  V. 
Parker. 

Co.  C,  Middlebury.  Captain,  Henry  M.  Porter ; 
First  Lieut.,  Erwin  V.  N.  Hitchcock ;  Second  Lieut., 
John  G.  Dickinson. 


GEEAT    REBELLION.  69 

Co.  D,  Rutland.  Captain,  John  B.  Kilburn ;  First 
Lieut.,  William  B.  Thrall ;  Second  Lieut.,  George  E. 
Cross. 

Co.  E,  Johnson.  Captain,  Daniel  Landon;  First 
Lieut.,  George  W.  Sheldon;  Second  Lieut.,  Richard 
T.  Cull. 

Co.  F,  Swanton.  Captain,  Lorenzo  D.  Brooks ; 
First  Lieut.,  Edgar  N.  Ballard ;  Second  Lieut.,  Rod 
ney  C.  Gates. 

Co.  G,  Cavendish.  Captain,  Salmon  Dutton ;  First 
Lieut.,  George  M.  R.  Howard ;  Second  Lieut.,  Leon 
ard  P.  Bingham. 

Co.  H,  Woodstock.  Captain,  Mahlon  M.  Young; 
First  Lieut.,  Henry  II.  French;  Second  Lieut.,  George 
H.  Kelley. 

Co.  I,  Poultney.  Captain,  Charles  C.  Ruggles; 
First  Lieut.,  Charles  Clark ;  Second  Lieut.,  Austin  E. 
Woodman. 

Co.  K,  Northfield.  Captain,  Nathan  P.  Barber; 
First  Lieut.,  John  L.  Moseley ;  Second  Lieut.,  Allen 
Spaldiug. 

This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Rutland,  was  mus 
tered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the  12th  of 
February,  1862,  consisted  of  ten  hundred  and  fourteen 
officers  and  men,  and  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of  war 
on  the  10th  of  March. 


70  VERMONT  IN  THE 

EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

The  field  and  line  officers,  and  the  companies  com 
posing  this  regiment,  with  their  locations,  were  as 
follows :  — 

Colonel,  Stephen  Thomas ;  Lieut.  Colonel,  Edward 
M.  Brown;  Major,  Charles  Dillingham. 

Co.  A,  Hydepark.  Captain,  Luman  A.  Grout; 
First  Lieut.,  Moses  McFarland ;  Second  Lieut.,  Gilman 
S.  Rand. 

Co.  B,  Derby  Line.  Captain,  Charles  B.  Child; 
First  Lieut.,  Stephen  T.  Spalding ;  Second  Lieut., 
Frederick  D.  Butterfield. 

Co.  C,  St.  Johnsbury.  Captain,  Henry  E.  Foster; 
First  Lieut.,  Edward  B.  Wright ;  Second  Lieut,  Fred 
erick  J.  Fuller. 

Co.  D,  Bradford.  Captain,  Cyrus  B.  Leach ;  First 
Lieut.,  Alfred  E.  Getehell;  Second  Lieut.,  Darius  C. 
Child. 

Co.  E,  Worcester.  Captain,  Edward  Hall;  First 
Lieut,,  Kilburn  Day;  Second  Lieut.,  Truman  Kel 
logg. 

Co.  F,  St.  Albans.  Captain,  Hiram  E.  Perkins; 
First  Lieut.,  Daniel  S.  Foster ;  Second  Lieut.,  Carter 
II.  Nason. 

Co.  G,  West  Randolph.  Captain,  Samuel  G.  P. 
Craig;  First  Lieut.,  Job  W.  Green;  Second  Lieut., 
John  B.  Mead. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  71 

Co.  H,  Townshend.  Captain,  Henry  F.  Dutton; 
First  Lieut.,  Alvin  B.  Franklin ;  Second  Lieut.,  Wil 
liam  H.  H.  Holton. 

Co.  I,  Marlboro'.  Captain,  William  W.  Lynde; 
First  Lieut.,  George  N.  Holland ;  Second  Lieut.,  Josh 
ua  C.  Morse. 

Co.  K,  Lunenburg.  Captain,  John  S.  Clarke  ;  First 
Lieut.,  Adoniram  J.  Howard ;  Second  Lieut,  George 
F.  French. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  was  raised  under  a  special  Act 
of  the  Legislature,  for  General  Benjamin  F.  Butler's 
expedition.  It  rendezvoused  at  Brattleboro',  was  mus 
tered  into  the  United  States  servive  on  the  18th  of 
February,  1862 ;  consisted  of  ten  hundred  and  fifteen 
officers  and  men,  and  left  the  State  to  join  the  expedi 
tion  on  the  6th  of  the  following  March. 

FIRST  VERMONT  BATTERY. 

The  officers  of  this  organization  were,  Captain, 
George  W.  Duncan ;  Senior  First  Lieut.,  George  T. 
Hebard;  Junior  First  Lieut.,  Edward  Rice;  Senior 
Second  Lieut.,  Henry  N.  Colburn ;  Junior  Second 
Lieut.,  Salmon  B.  Hebard.  This  battery  rendezvoused 
at  Brattleboro',  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
officers  and  men,  and  was  attached  to  the  Eighth  Regi 
ment.  It  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser 
vice,  and  left  the  State  to  join  General  Butler's  ex 
pedition  at  the  same  time  as  that  regiment. 


72  VERMONT  IN  THE 

SECOND  VERMONT  BATTERY. 

The  Second  Vermont  Battery  rendezvoused  at  Bran 
don,  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on 
the  24th  of  December,  1861,  and  consisted  of  one  hun 
dred  and  nine  officers  and  men,  commanded  by  Captain 
Lensie  R.  Sayles.  On  the  next  day  after  its  muster, 
the  battery  went  into  camp  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  the 
following  February  left  that  place,  and  was  stationed 
at  Ship  Island,  New  Orleans,  and  other  places,  where 
it  performed  good  service. 

SHARPSHOOTERS. 

Early  in  August,  1861,  Edmund  Weston,  Jr.,  of 
West  Randolph,  was  authorized  to  raise  a  company 
of  Sharpshooters  for  Colonel  Berdan's  regiment,  and 
went  vigorously  about  the  work.  The  company  ren 
dezvoused  at  West  Randolph,  and  consisted  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  men.  The  officers  were, 
Captain,  Edmund  Weston,  Jr.;  First  Lieut.,  Charles 
W.  Seaton;  Second  Lieut.,  Martin  V.  Brown.  The 
company  left  for  Washington  on  the  4th  of  September, 
and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on 
the  31st  of  October,  1861.  It  was  attached  to  the 
First  Regiment  Berdan's  Sharpshooters  as  Co.  F. 

The  Second  Company  of  Sharpshooters  rendezvoused 
at  West  Randolph  on  the  1st  of  November,  1861,  and 


GREAT    REBELLION.  73 

was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on  the 
9th,  with  ninety-one  officers  and  men.  The  officers 
were,  Captain,  Homer  R.  Stoughton;  First  Lieut., 
Frederick  Spaulding;  Second  Lieut.,  Henry  M.  Hall. 
It  was  attached  to  the  Second  Regiment  Berdan's 
Sharpshooters  as  Co.  E. 

The  Third  Company  of  Sharpshooters  was  recruited 
at  Brattleboro.'  The  officers  were,  Captain,  Gilbert 
Hart;  First  Lieut.,  Henry  Herbert;  Second  Lieut., 
Albert  Baxter.  It  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  on  the  31st  of  December,  1861,  with 
ninety-four  officers  and  men.  Early  in  February  fol 
lowing  twelve  recruits  were  sent  forward  to  this  com 
pany,  which  had  been  attached  as  Co.  II  to  the  Sec 
ond  Regiment  Berdan's  Sharpshooters. 

Captain  William  Y.  W.  Ripley,  of  Rutland,  was 
appointed  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  Sharp 
shooters,  and  commissioned  by  the  Governor  of  Ver 
mont. 

FIRST  REGIMENT  OP  CAVALRY. 

In  October,  1861,  Samuel  B.  Platt  was  authorized 
by  the  War  Department  to  recruit  and  put  into  the 
field  a  full  regiment  of  cavalry  from  the  State  of  Ver 
mont.  The  following  were  the  locations  of  the  com 
panies  and  the  names  of  their  officers :  — 

Co.  A,  Chittenden  County.  Captain,  Frank  A. 
Platt;  First  Lieut,  Joel  B.  Erhardt;  Second  Lieut., 
Ellis  B.  Edwards. 


74  VERMONT    IN    THE 

Co.  B,  Franklin  County.  Captain,  George  P.  Con 
ger  ;  First  Lieut.,  William  M.  Braman  ;  Second  Lieut., 
Joel  P.  Clark. 

Co.  C,  Washington  County.  Captain,  William 
Wells ;  First  Lieut.,  Henry  M.  Paige ;  Second  Lieut., 
Eli  Holden. 

Co.  D,  Orange  County.  Captain,  Addison  W.  Pres 
ton;  First  Lieut,  John  W.Bennett;  Second  Lieut., 
William  G.  Cummings. 

Co.  E,  Windsor  County.  Captain,  Samuel  P.  Rund- 
lett ;  First  Lieut.,  Andrew  J.  Grover ;  Second  Lieut., 
John  C.  Holmes. 

Co.  F,  Windham  County.  Captain,  Josiah  Hall ; 
First  Lieut.,  Robert  Schofield,  Jr.;  Second  Lieut., 
Nathaniel  E.  Hayward. 

Co.  G,  Bennington  County.  Captain,  James  A. 
Sheldon ;  First  Lieut.,  George  H.  Bean ;  Second  Lieut., 
Dennis  M.  Blackmer. 

Co.  H,  Rutland  County.  Captain,  Selah  G.  Per 
kins;  First  Lieut.,  Franklin  T.  Huntoon;  Second 
Lieut.,  Charles  A.  Adams. 

Co.  I,  Lamoille  and  Orleans  Counties.  Captain,  Ed 
ward  B.  Sawyer ;  First  Lieut.,  Henry  C.  Flint ;  Second 
Lieut.,  Josiah  Grout,  Jr. 

Co.  K,  Addison  County.  Captain,  Franklin  Moore ; 
First  Lieut.,  John  S.  Ward ;  Second  Lieut.,  John  Wil 
liamson. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  75 

'  The  field  officers  of  the  regiment  were,  Colonel,  Lem 
uel  B.  Platt;  Lieut.  Colonel,  George  B.  Kellogg;  Ma 
jor,  William  D.  Collins.  This  regiment  rendezvoused 
at  Burlington,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  on  the  19th  of  November,  with  nine 
hundred  and  sixty-six  officers  and  men,  and  left  the 
State  for  the  seat  of  war  on  the  14th  of  December, 

1861. 

NINTH  REGIMENT. 

The  field  officers  of  this  regiment,  and  the  location 
of  the  companies,  and  the  names  of  their  commanders, 
were  as  follows  :  — 

Colonel,  George  J.  Stannard;  Lieut.  Colonel,  Dud 
ley  K.  Andross ;  Major,  E.  S.  Stowell. 

Co.  A,  Swanton.     Captain,  Valentine  G.  Barney. 

Co.  B,  Rutland.     Captain,  Edward  H.  Ripley. 

Co.  C,  Middlebury.     Captain,  Albert  R.  Sabin. 

Co.  D,  Weathersfield.     Captain,  Charles  Jarvis. 

Co.  E,  Irasburg.     Captain,  Amasa  Bartlett. 

Co.  F.  Burlington.     Captain,  George  A.  Bebee. 

Co.  G,  Bradford.     Captain,  William  J.  Henderson. 

Co.  H,  Hydepark.     Captain,  Abel  II.  Slayton. 

Co.  I,  Plainfield.     Captain,  Albion  J.  Mower. 

Co.  K,  Brattleboro'.     Captain,  David  W.  Lewis. 

The  Ninth  Regiment  rendezvoused  at  Brattleboro', 
and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  on 
the  9th  of  July,  1862,  with  nine  hundred  and  twenty 


76  VERMONT    IN    THE 

officers  and  men,  and  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of  war 
on  the  15th  of  the  same  month. 

This  regiment  was  a  part  of  the  eleven  thousand  and 
five  hundred  men  disgracefully,  and,  it  was  feared, 
treacherously,  surrendered  by  Colonel  Miles  —  an  expe 
rienced  regular  army  officer  —  to  Stonewall  Jackson, 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  on  the  15th  of  September,  1862. 
*  They  were  paroled  and  sent  to  Chicago,  but  not  ex 
changed  until  the  following  December. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1862,  the  Secretary  of  War 
telegraphed  Governor  Holbrook  that  the  Government 
was  in  pressing  need  of  troops,  and  inquired  how 
many  could  be  forwarded  immediately.  On  the  26th 
he  requested  the  Governor  to  raise  and  organize  the 
Tenth  Regiment.  On  the  1st  of  July  President  Lin 
coln  issued  a  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  volun 
teers,  to  serve  for  three  years.  The  officers  of  the 
State  of  Vermont  earnestly  desired  to  comply  as 
speedily  as  possible  with  the  call  of  the  President, 
and  they  were  heartily  seconded  by  her  patriotic  peo 
ple.  The  work  of  recruiting  was  commenced  at  once, 
and  was  pressed  with  great  energy.  The  Governor 
issued  an  address  calling  upon  the  people  for  their 
earnest  and  active  co-operation  in  raising  the  Tenth  and 
Eleventh  Regiments.  Eighteen  recruiting  offices  were 
opened  in  the  State;  and  on  the  15th  of  August  more 
than  the  number  of  men  required  for  these  two  regi 
ments  were  in  camp  at  Brattleboro'. 


GEEAT    REBELLION.  77 

The  companies  composing  the  Tenth  Regiment  were 
as  follows :  — 

Co.  A,  St.  Johnsbury.     Captain,  Edwin  B.  Frost. 

Co.  B,  Waterbury.     Captain,  Edwin  Dillingham. 

Co.  C,  Rutland.     Captain,  John  A.  Sheldon. 

Co.  D,  Burlington.     Captain,  Giles  F.  Appleton. 

Co.  E,  Bennington.     Captain,  Madison  E.  Winslow. 

Co.  F,  Swanton.     Captain,  Hiram  Platt. 

Co.  G,  Bradford.     Captain,  George  B.  Damon. 

Co.  H,  Ludlow.     Captain,  Levi  T.  Hunt. 

Co.  I,  St.  Albans.     Captain,  Charles  G.  Chandler. 

Co.  K,  Derby  Line.     Captain,  Hiram  R.  Steele. 

The  field  officers  of  this  regiment  were,  Colonel, 
Albert  Jewett ;  Lieut.  Colonel,  John  H.  Edson ;  Ma 
jor,  William  W.  Henry. 

The  companies  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment  were  as 
follows :  — 

Co.  A,  St.  Johnsbury.  Captain,  George  E.  Cham- 
berlin. 

Co.  B,  Stoneham.     Captain,  Charles  Hunsden. 

Co.  O,  Fairhaven.     Captain,  James  T.  Hyde. 

Co.  D,  Hydepark.     Captain,  Urban  A.  Woodbury. 

Co.  E,  Brattleboro'.     Captain,  John  Hunt. 

Co.  F,  Irasburg.     Captain,  James  Rice. 

Co.  G,  Bellows  Falls.     Captain,  Charles  Buxton. 

Co.  H,  Royalton.     Captain,  James  D.  Rice. 

Co.  I,  Worcester.     Captain,  Robinson  Templeton. 


78  VERMONT    IN   THE 

Co.  K,  Alburg.     Captain,  George  D.  Sowles. 

The  field  officers  of  this  regiment  were  James  M. 
Warner,  Colonel ;  Reuben  C.  Benton,  Lieut.  Colonel ; 
George  E.  Chamberlin,  Major. 

Both  of  these  regiments  were  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  on  the  1st  of  September;  the 
Tenth  numbering  ten  hundred  and  sixteen  officers  and 
men,  and  the  Eleventh  ten  hundred  and  eighteen.  The 
Tenth  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of  war  on  the  6th, 
and  the  Eleventh  on  the  7th,  of  September. 

While  the  Tenth  and  Eleventh  Regiments  were 
being  raised,  urgent  calls  were  made  by  the  Secretary 
of  War  and  the  General-in-Chief  of  the  army  for  re 
cruits  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the  regiments  in  the  service 
decimated  by  the  privations,  toils,  and  hardships  of 
the  Peninsular  Campaign.  To  this  end  each  town 
in  the  State  was  assigned  its  quota,  estimated  on  its 
population  at  the  rate  of  thirty  recruits  to  each  thou 
sand  of  population.  The  Adjutant  General's  Report 
of  November  1,  1862,  says,  "For  the  purpose  of  fill 
ing  the  regiments  in  service,  four  thousand  two  hun 
dred  men  were  assessed  upon  the  several  towns  in  the 
State,  allowing  three  thousand  for  the  Ninth,  Tenth, 
and  Eleventh  Regiments,  and  one  thousand  two  hun 
dred  for  the  old  regiments;  and  in  determining  the 
quota  of  each  town,  those  towns  that  were  deficient 
in  their  due  proportion  of  men  raised  under  the  first 


GREAT    REBELLION.  79 

call  for  five  hundred  thousand  men,  were  charged  with 
the  deficiency,  as  shown  by  the  lister's  returns  in  April, 
and  the  sum  of  the  deficiencies  deducted  from  the  four 
thousand  two  hundred  men  required,  and  the  residue 
only  assessed  upon  all  the  towns ;  thus  reducing  the 
quota  of  the  towns  not  deficient  from  fourteen  upon 
each  thousand  of  population  to  eight  upon  each  thou 
sand."  By  an  order  from  the  Governor,  the- Select 
men  of  each  town  were  authorized  to  act  as  recruiting 

O  - 

officers  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  required  number 
of  men.  Most  of  the  towns  furnished  the  full  number 
required  of  them,  while  some  furnished  an  excess  be 
yond  their  quota.  By  an  order  of  the  War  Depart 
ment,  the  men  thus  enlisted  were  allowed  to  select  the 
regiment  in  which  they  desired  to  serve.  This  re 
sulted  in  raising  eleven  hundred  and  three  recruits, 
who  entered  old  regiments. 

Under  an  act  of  Congress  of  July  17, 1862,  allowing 
one  additional  squadron  to  each  regiment  of  cavalry, 
two  companies  were  raised.  Co.  L,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  four  officers  and  men,  was  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  on  the  29th  of  September, 
1862.  Co.  M  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  one  offi- 
ers  and  men,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  on  the 
30th  of  December,  1862.  Both  companies  left  the 
State  to  join  the  First  Vermont  Cavalry  Regiment,  at 
the  front,  soon  after  being  mustered. 


80  VERMONT    IN    THE 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1862,  the  President  made  a 
requisition  for  three  hundred  thousand  militia  to  serve 
for  nine  months,  the  quota  of  Vermont  being  assessed 
at  four  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety-eight  men. 
At  the  same  time,  the  Secretary  of  War  announced 
that  if  any  State  should  not  furnish  its  quota  of  three 
hundred  thousand  volunteers  before  the  15th  of  that 
month,  the  deficiency  in  such  State  would  be  made 
up  by  a  special  draft  from  the  milita.  On  the  16th  the 
Secretary  of  War  ordered  that  volunteers  to  fill  up 
the  old  regiments  should  be  received  and  paid  the 
bounty  and  advance  pay  offered  by  the  Government 
until  the  first  day  of  September,  and  for  want  of  vol 
unteers,  a  special  draft  would  be  ordered  to  make  up 
the  deficiency. 

The  publication  of  these  orders  resulted  in  a  sudden 
and  unexampled  increase  in  the  number  of  daily  enlist 
ments.  The  Tenth  and  Eleventh  Regiments  were 
rapidly  filled  up,  and  recruiting  for  the  old  regiments 
progressed  with  much  credit  to  the  patriotism  of  the 
young  men  of  the  State,  who  showed  great  determina 
tion  and  zeal,  from  first  to  last,  to  sustain  the  Govern 
ment. 

On  the  llth  of  August,  a  new  enrollment  of  all 
able-bodied  male  citizens  between  the  ages  of  eighteen 
and  forty-five  years  was  ordered  by  the  Adjutant 
General,  to  be  made  by  the  listers  of  the  several 


GEEAT    REBELLION.  81 

towns,  the  rolls  to  be  completed  and  returned,  one 
copy  to  the  town  clerk,  and  another  to  the  adjutant- 
general's  office,  on  or  before  the  25th  day  of  that 
month. 

On  the  12th  of  August  an  order  was  issued  calling 
into  actual  service  all  the  companies  of  active  militia 
then  in  the  State.  There  were  upon  the  adjutant-gen 
eral's  books  twenty-two  of  these  companies,  ten  of 
which  had  been  in  the  service  three  months,  compos 
ing  the  first  regiment,  many  of  whom,  with  members 
of  other  companies,  had  already  enlisted,  and  were  in 
the  service  for  three  years ;  so  that  but  six  companies 
remained  in  the  State,  which  had  preserved  their  full 
and  perfect  organizations,  and  these  with  reduced 
ranks.  Such  was  the  law  of  the  State  that  no  legal 
draft  could  be  made  from  enrolled  militia  that  had 
been  called  into  the  service. 

Fourteen  uniform  companies  of  the  active  militia 
responded  to  the  call,  with  full  ranks,  and  were  mus 
tered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  They 
were  as  follows  :  — 

Allen  Grays,  of  Brandon. 

Saxton's  River  Light  Infantry,  of  Rockingham. 

West  Windsor  Guards,  of  West  Windsor. 

Woodstock  Light  Infantry,  of  Woodstock. 

Bradford  Guards,  of  Bradford. 

Rutland  Light  Guard,  of  Rutland. 
6 


82  VERMONT   IN   THE 

Howard  Guards,  of  Burlington. 

Tunbridge  Light  Infantry,  of  Tunbridge. 

Ransom  Guards,  of  St.  Albans. 

New  England  Guards,  of  Northfield. 

Ernmett  Guards,  of  Burlington. 

Frontier  Guards,  of  Coventry. 

Lafayette  Artillery,  of  Calais. 

The  remaining  companies  of  the  uniform  militia  had 
either  been  disbanded  by  general  orders  or  practically 
ceased  to  exist  as  organized  companies  previous  to  the 
order  calling  them  into  active  service,  so  that  the 
entire  uniform  militia  of  the  State  had  been  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  the  government. 

In  compliance  with  an  order  issued  on  the  13th  of 
August,  providing  for  the  enlistment  of  the  enrolled 
militia  by  companies,  through  the  efforts  of  the  select 
men  of  the  several  towns  in  the  State,  and  the  co 
operation  of  patriotic  citizens,  thirty-seven  companies 
were  enlisted,  organized,  offered  themselves,  and  were 
accepted  for  nine  months'  service,  as  follows  :  — 

Montpelier  Company,  from  Montpelier,  Waterbury, 
Barre,  Berlin,  Middlesex,  and  other  towns. 

Moretown  Company,  from  Waitsfield,  Warren,  Fays- 
ton,  Duxbury,  Moretown,  and  Middlesex. 

Bethel  Company,  from  Bethel,  Stockbridge,  Roches 
ter,  Royal  ton,  and  Pittsfield. 

Bennington  Company,  from  Bennington,  Pownal, 
and  Woodford. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  83 

Wallingford  Company,  from  Danby,  Pawlet,  Middle- 
ton,  Clarendon,  Wallingford,  Shrewsbury,  Tinmouth, 
and  other  towns. 

Brattleboro'  Company,  from  Brattleboro',  Marlboro', 
Putney,  Dummerston,  Guilford,  and  Westminster. 

Manchester  Company,  from  Manchester,  Rupert, 
Winhall,  Sunderland,  Arlington,  and  Dorset. 

St.  Johnsbury  Company,  from  St.  Johnsbury,  Water- 
bury,  Barnet,  Kirby,  Concord,  and  Ryegate. 

East  Montpelier  Company,  from  East  Montpelier, 
Berlin,  Calais,  Marshfield,  Worcester,  Plainfield,  and 
Orange. 

Ludlow  Company,  from  Ludlow,  Plymouth,  Ando- 
ver,  Weston,  Landgrove,  Cavendish,  and  other  towns. 

Shoreham  Company,  from  Shoreham,  Cornwall,  Brid- 
port,  Benson,  Orwell,  and  other  towns. 

Townshend  Company,  from  Wardsboro',  London 
derry,  Windham,  Grafton,  Townshend,  and  Jamaica. 

Middlebury  Company,  from  Middlebury,  Salisbury, 
Addison,  Cornwall,  Whiting,  Shoreham,  Weybridge, 
Kipton,  and  other  towns. 

West  Fairlee  Company,  from  Vershire,  Thetford, 
Strafford,  West  Fairlee,  and  Washington. 

Springfield  Company,  from  Springfield,  Chester, 
Weathersfield,  and  Reading. 

Barton  Company,  from  Barton,  Irasburg,  Sutton,  Al 
bany,  Craftsbury,  Greensboro',  Brownington,  Westmore, 
and  Glover, 


84  VEBMONT    IN    THE 

• 

Castleton  Company,  from  Castleton,  Hubbardton, 
Fairhaven,  Poultney,  and  West  Haven. 

Wilmington  Company,  from  Wilmington,  Whiting- 
ham,  Dover,  Scarsboro',  and  Halifax. 

Barnard  Company,  from  Barnard,  Pomfret,  Sharon, 
Bridge  water,  and  Hartford. 

Colchester  Company,  from  Colchester,  Milton,  and 
other  towns. 

Bristol  Company,  from  Bristol,  Starksboro',  Monk- 
ton,  New  Haven,  Hinesburg,  and  other  towns. 

Danville  Company,  from  Danville,  Hardwick,  and 
Walden. 

Morristown  Company,  from  Morristown,  Stowe, 
Cambridge,  Eden,  Wolcott,  Johnson,  and  Westford. 

Richmond  Company,  from  Richmond,  Jericho,  Un- 
derhill,  Essex,  St.  George,  Bolton,  Williston,  Hunting- 
ton,  and  Starksboro'. 

Rutland  Company,  from  Rutland,  Sherburne,  Men- 
don,  Chittenden,  Pittsfield,  Mount  Holly,  Ira,  and 
other  towns. 

West  Randolph  Company,  from  Northfield,  Brook- 
field,  and  Randolph. 

Highgate  Company,  from  Swanton,  Highgate,  Frank 
lin,  Grand  Isle,  Alburg,  North  Hero,  South  Hero,  and 
other  towns. 

Bakersfield  Company,  from  Berkshire,  Bakersfield, 
Enosboro',  Richford,  Montgomery,  and  other  towns. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  85 

Chester  Company,  from  Springfield,  Baltimore, 
Weathersfield,  Grafton,  Cavendish,  Norwich,  and 
Chester. 

Wait's  River  Company,  from  Barre,  Orange,  Tops- 
ham,  Newbury,  Groton,  Corinth,  Washington,  Brad 
ford,  and  other  towns. 

Islanrf  Pond  Company,  raised  in  Brighton,  Holland, 
Morgan,  Newark,  Burke,  Lunenburg,  Canaan,  East 
Haven,  Lemington,  Charleston,  Brunswick,  and  Maid- 
stone. 

Vergennes  Company,  raised  in  Charlotte,  Addison, 
Vergennes,  Ferrisburg,  New  Haven,  Huntington,  Go- 
shen,  Panton,  and  Granville. 

Mclndoe's  Falls  Company,  raised  in  Barnet,  Peach- 
am,  Ryegate,  Danville,  Coventry,  Greensboro',  Barton, 
Waterford,  and  St.  Johnsbury. 

Lyndon  Company,  raised  in  Sheffield,  Wheelock, 
Lyndon,  Sutton,  Glover,  Guildhall,  Kirby,  and  Victory. 

Danby  Company,  raised  in  Danby,  Ppwnal,  Rupert, 
Sandgate,  Shaftsbury,  Stamford,  Wallingford,  Wells, 
Poultney,  and  other  towns. 

Felchville  Company,  raised  in  Reading,  Hartford, 
Hartland,  Weston,  Royalton,  Barnard,  Sharon,  Stock- 
bridge,  Windsor,  and  other  towns. 

Williamstown  Company,  raised  in  Newfane,  Putney, 
Guilford,  Peru,  Stratton,  Readsboro',  Dummerston, 
Brookline,  Searsburg,  Windham,  Wardsboro',  Marl 
boro',  Jamaica,  and  other  towns. 


86  VERMONT    IN    THE 

A  draft  was  ordered  to  make  up  deficiencies  in  the 
quotas  of  the  several  towns  in  the  State,  to  take  place 
on  the  10th  of  September,  1862.  Before  that  time  the 
quotas  had  been  so  far  filled  that  but  fifty  men  were 
drafted  in  all.  Many  of  these  enlisted,  others  were 
thrown  out  by  the  medical  inspector,  and  the  balance 
furnished  substitutes.  The  ultimate  result  was,  that 
the  State  furnished  five  full  regiments  under  the  call 
of  the  President. 

These  several  companies  were  organized  into  regi 
ments,  as  follows :  — 

TWELFTH  REGIMENT. 

Co.  A,  West  Windsor  Guards.  Captain,  Charles  L. 
Savage. 

Co.  B,  Woodstock  Light  Infantry.  Captain,  Ora 
Paul,  Jr. 

Co.  C,  Howard  Guards.     Captain,  Leonard  W.  Page. 

Co.  D,  Tunbridge  Light  Infantry.  Captain,  David 
F.  Cole. 

Co.  E,  Ransom  Guards.  Captain,  Hamilton  S.  Gil 
bert. 

Co.  F,  New  England  Guards.  Captain,  Darius 
Thomas. 

Co.  G,  Allen  Grays.     Captain,  Ebenezer  J.  Ormsbee. 

Co.  H,  Bradford  Guards.  Captain,  Preston  S. 
Chamberlin. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  87 

Co.  I,  Saxton's  River  Light  Infantry.  Captain,  Carl- 
ton  H.  Roundy. 

Co.  K,  Rutland  Light  Guard.  Captain,  Walter  C. 
Landon. 

The  field  officers  of  this  regiment  were,  Asa  P. 
Blunt,  Colonel ;  Roswell  Farnham,  Lieut.  Colonel ; 
Levi  G.  Kingsley,  Major.  It  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  at  Brattleboro',  with  nine  hun 
dred  and  eighty-eight  officers  and  men,  on  the  4th,  and 
left  the  State  on  the  7th  of  October. 

THIRTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

Co.  A,  Emmett  Guards.     Captain,  John  Lanergan. 

Co.  B,  Moretown  Company.  Captain,  Oscar  C. 
Wilder. 

Co.  C,  East  Montpelier  Company.  Captain,  Lewis 
L.  Colburn. 

Co.  D,  Colchester  Company.  Captain,  William  D. 
Munson. 

Co.  E,  Morristown  Company.  Captain,  Joseph  J. 
Boynton. 

Co.  F,  Richmond  Company.     Captain,  John  L.  Yale. 

Co.  G,  Bakersfield  Company.  Captain,  Marvin 
White. 

Co.  H,  Lafayette  Artillery.  Captain,  William  V. 
Peck. 

Co.  I,  Montpelier  Company.  Captain,  John  M. 
Thacher. 


00  VERMONT   IN    THE 

Co.  K,  Highgate  Company.  Captain,  George  S. 
Blake. 

The  field  officers  of  this  regiment  were  Francis  V. 
Randall,  Colonel;  Andrew  C.  Brown,  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  ;  Lawrence  D.  Clark,  Major.  It  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  at  Brattleboro',  with 
nine  hundred  and  fifty-three  officers  and  men,  on  the 
10th,  and  left  the  State  on  the  llth  of  October. 

FOURTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

Co.  A,  Bennington  Company.  Captain,  Ransom  O. 
Gore. 

Co.  B,  Wallingford  Company.  Captain,  John  C. 
Thompson. 

Co.  C,  Manchester  Company.  Captain,  Josiah  B. 
Munson. 

Co.  D,  Shoreham  Company.  Captain,  Charles  E. 
Abell. 

Co.  E,  Middlebury  Company.    Captain,  Edwin  Rich 

Co.  F,  Castleton  Company.  Captain,  Joseph  Jen 
nings. 

Co.  G,  Bristol  Company.  Captain,  Noble  F.  Dun- 
shee. 

Co.  H,  Rutland  Company.  Captain,  Walter  C. 
Dunton. 

Co.  I,  Yergennes  Company.  Captain,  Solomon  T. 
Allen. 


GREAT    REBELLION.  89 

Co.  K,  Danby  Company.  Captain,  Alonzo  N. 
Colvin. 

The  field  officers  were,  William  T.  Nichols,  Colonel ; 
Charles  W.  Rose,  Lieut.  Colonel ;  Nathaniel  B.  Hall, 
Major.  It  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser 
vice  at  Brattleboro',  with  nine  hundred  and  fifty-two 
officers  and  men,  on  the  21st,  and  left  the  State  on  the 
22d  of  October. 

FIFTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

Co.  A,  West  Fairlee  Company.  Captain,  Horace  E. 
Brown. 

Co.  B,  Danville  Company.    Captain,  James  M.  Ayer. 

Co.  C,  West  Randolph  Company.  Captain,  C.  N. 
Carpenter. 

Co.  D,  Wait's  River  Company.  Captain,  Charles  G. 
French. 

Co.  E,  Island  Pond  Company.  Captain,  Warren 
N~oyes. 

Co.  F,  Mclndoe's  Falls  Company.  Captain,  Xerxes 
C.  Stevens. 

Co.  G,  Lyndon  Company.  Captain,  Stephen  Mc- 
Gafley. 

Co.  H,  Frontier  Guards.     Captain,  Riley  E.  Wright. 

Co.  I,  Barton  Company.  Captain,  William  H. 
Johnson. 

Co.  K,  St.  Johnsbury  Company.  Captain,  George 
B.  Woodward. 


90  VERMONT    IN    THE 

The  field  officers  were,  Redfield  Proctor,  Colonel ; 
William  W.  Grout,  Lieut.  Colonel ;  Charles  F.  Spal- 
ding,  Major.  It  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  at  Brattleboro',  with  nine  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  officers  and  men,  on  the  22d,  and  left  the  State  on 
the  23d  of  October. 

SIXTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

Co.  A,  Bethel  Company.     Captain,  Henry  A.  Eaton. 

Co.  B,  Brattleboro'  Company.  Captain,  Robert  B. 
Arms. 

Co.  C,  Ludlow  Company.     Captain,  Asa  G.  Foster. 

Co.  D,  Townshend  Company.     Captain,  David  Ball. 

Co.  E,  Springfield  Company.  Captain,  Alvin  C. 
Mason. 

Co.  F,  Wilmington  Company.  Captain,  Henry  F. 
Dix. 

Co.  G,  Barnard  Company.  Captain,  Harvey  N. 
Bruce. 

Co.  H,  Felchville  Company.  Captain,  Joseph  C. 
Sawyer. 

Co.  I,  Williamsville  Company.  Captain,  Lyrnan  E. 
Knapp. 

Co.  K,  Chester  Company.  Captain,  Samuel  Hutch- 
inson. 

The  field  officers  were,  Wheelock  G.  Veazey,  Col 
onel;  Charles  Cummings,  Lieut.  Colonel;  William 


GKEAT    EEBELLON.  91 

Rounds,  Major.  It  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  at  Brattleboro',  with  nine  hundred  arid 
forty-nine  officers  and  men,  on  the  23d,  and  left  the 
State  on  the  24th  of  October. 

When  the  muster  of  the  foregoing  five  regiments 
was  completed,  there  were  in  the  service  from  Vermont 
fifteen  regiments  of  Infantry,  one  regiment  of  Cavalry, 
two  batteries  of  Light  Artillery,  and  three  companies  of 
Sharpshooters.  According  to  the  Adjutant  General's 
Report,  the  account  stood  with  the  State  as  follows :  — 

Men  furnished  on  first  requisition  for  500,000  men,  .  9,283 

"  "        "  second    "          "    300.000    "       .  4,164 

"  «        "  third        "          «    300,000    "       .  4,777 

Total, 18,224 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1862,  there  were  in  the 
field  from  the  State  of  Vermont  fifteen  regiments  of 
Infantry,  one  regiment  of  Cavalry,  two  batteries  of 
Light  Artillery,  and  three  companies  of  Sharpshooters, 
then  numbering  over  sixteen  thousand  officers  and 
men.  Of  these,  five  regiments  of  infantry  were  enlisted 
for  nine  months,  and  the  residue  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war. 

In  December,  1862,  the  Eleventh  Infantry  Regiment 
was,  by  order  of  the  War  Department,  changed  to 
Heavy  Artillery,  and  an  additional  company  was  raised 
for  it  and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  July 


92  VERMONT    IN    THE 

11, 1863,with  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  officers  and  men. 
Subsequently  another  company  was  enlisted,  organized, 
and  added  to  this  regiment.  An  additional  company 
was  raised,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  one  officers 
and  men,  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
December  30,  1862,  and  added  to  the  First  Regiment 
of  Cavalry.  A  brigade  band,  of  fifteen  men,  for  the 
brigade  composed  of  the  old  regiments  from  the  State, 
was  enlisted  and  mustered  into  the  service  May  26, 
1863. 

In  October,  1863,  the  State  stood  credited  by  the 
War  Department  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
men  in  excess  of  her  quota  under  all  calls  for  troops 
which  had  then  been  made. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  Twelfth,  Thirteenth, 
Fourteenth,  Fifteenth,  and  Sixteenth  Regiments,  en 
listed  for  nine  months,  having  expired,  they  were 
mustered  out  from  the  14th  of  July  to  the  10th  of 
August,  1863. 

Under  an  order  of  the  War  Department,  drafts  were 
made  from  the  enrolled  militia  of  the  State  by  Con 
gressional  districts.  That  in  the  Third  District  took 
place  on  the  26th  of  September;  Second  District,  30th 
of  September;  and  First  District,  1st  of  October,  1863. 
The  quota  assigned  to  the  State,  to  be  raised  by  draft, 
was  4715.  The  whole  number  of  men  drafted  was 
7071;  accepted,  2781;  entered  the  service,  318;.  pro- 


GREAT   REBELLION.  93 

cured  substitutes,  630  ;  paid  commutation,  1833  ;  mak 
ing  a  total  of  men  who  entered  the  service,  furnished 
substitutes,  and  paid  commutation,  of  2781,  leaving  a  de 
ficiency  of  1934  men,  to  be  raised  by  supplemental  draft, 
or  otherwise  furnished  by  the  State.  The  men  obtained 
by  the  draft  were  most  of  them  sent  to  fill  up  the  old 
regiments,  depleted  by  casualties  of  field  and  camp. 
The  deficiency  was  made  up  by  enlistments  induced 
by  the  spirit  of  patriotism  which  pervaded  the  State 
from  the  beginning  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  by  the 
large  bounties  and  pay  offered  by  towns,  State,  and 
United  States. 

During  the  year  from  October  1,  1863,  to  October 
1,  1864,  under  a  general  order  of  the  War  Depart 
ment  authorizing  the  re-enlistment  of  men  in  the  ser 
vice  who  had  less  than  one  year  of  their  original  term 
of  enlistment  to  serve,  and  offering  a  bounty  and  pre 
mium  of  four  hundred  and  two  dollars  to  all  who 
should  thus  re-enlist,  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
forty-three  men  re-enlisted  in  regiments  and  detached 
companies  from  Vermont. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  Second  Regiment  expired 
June  19,  1864,  and  on  the  22d  it  was  mustered  out 
of  service  at  Brattleboro',  with  two  hundred  and  nine 
teen  officers  and  men.  The  term  of  the  Third  expired 
July  15,  1864,  and  it  was  mustered  out  at  Burlington 
on  the  27th,  with  one  hundred  and  sixty  officers  and 


94  VEEMONT   IN   THE 

men.  The  term  of  the  Fourth  expired  September 
20,  1864,  and  it  was  mustered  out  at  Brattleboro'  on 
the  30th,  with  one  hundred  and  forty-six  officers  and 
men.  The  term  of  the  Fifth  expired  September  15, 
1864,  but  its  organization  was  preserved  by  the  re-en 
listment  of  the  requisite  number  of  men.  Such  as  had 
not  re-enlisted  were  mustered  out  as  a  detachment  in 
the  field,  and  returned  to  Burlington  to  be  paid.  The 
term  of  the  Sixth  expired  October  14,  1864,  but  pre 
served  its  organization  by  re-enlistments,  and  was 
mustered  out  June  26,  1865.  The  term  of  the 
Seventh  expired  February  12,  1865,  but  it  was  not 
mustered  out  until  March  14th,  1866.  The  other  in 
fantry  served  until  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The 
First  Company  of  Sharpshooters  was  mustered  out 
September  13,  1864;  the  Second,  November  9,  1864; 
the  Third,  December  30,  1861.  The  First  Light 
Battery  was  mustered  out  August  10,  1864;  the 
Second,  September  20,  1864;  the  Third  served  to 
the  end  of  the  war.  The  First  Regiment  of  Cavalry 
was  mustered  out  of  service  November  18,  1864. 

VERMONT  TROOPS. 

During  the  four  years'  existence  of  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion  —  from  the  first  assault  upon  Fort 
Sumter,  April  12,  1861,  to  the  surrender  of  Lee's 


GREAT    REBELLION.  95 

army  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  April  9,  1865  — 
all  the  Free  States  acted  well  their  parts,  New  Eng 
land,  whose  sentiments  with  regard  to  the  peculiar 
institution,  and  the  great  interest  of  the  South,  had 
been  for  years  misunderstood,  and  persistently  misrep 
resented  by  senators  and  representatives  in  Congress, 
by  the  newspaper  press,  and  by  the  influential  men 
generally  in  and  from  the  Slave  States,  was  especially 
hated  for  her  thrift,  enterprise,  and  intelligence.  Her 
senators  and  representatives  had  been  insulted,  bullied, 
and  assaulted  upon  the  floor  of  Congress.  She  had 
been  defied,  and  the  patriotism  and  bravery  of  her 
sons  had  been  called  in  question ;  and  when  the  flag 
of  the  common  country  was  fired  upon  by  South  Caro 
lina,  every  New  England  man  felt  insulted,  and  called 
upon  to  protect  and  defend  it,  if  need  be  with  his  life, 
his  property,  and  his  sacred  honor. 

Vermont  participated  largely  in  this  feeling,  and  im 
mediately  on  the  reception  of  the  call  of  President 
Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers  for  three 
months,  Governor  Fairbanks  called  the  Legislature  to 
assemble,  and  take  all  needed  measures  to  put  into 
the  field  her  quota  of  men.  On  the  23d  of  April  the 
Legislature  assembled  at  Montpelier,  and  Governor 
Fairbanks  delivered  before  the  joint  assembly  the 
following  practical  and  patriotic  address:  — 


96  VERMONT   IN    THE 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa 
tives  :  — 

"  We  are  convened  to-day  in  view  of  events  of  an 
extraordinary  and  very  alarming  character.  The  ele 
ment  of  disunion,  which,  in  a  portion  of  the  United 
States,  for  many  years,  vented  itself  in  threats  and 
menaces,  has  culminated  in  open  rebellion ;  and  an 
unnatural  and  causeless  civil  war  has  been  precipitated 
against  the  general  government. 

"Unprincipled  and  ambitious  men  have  organized 
a  despotism  and  an  armed  force  for  the  purpose  of 
overthrowing  that  government  which  the  American 
people  have  formed  for  themselves,  and  of  destroying 
that  constitutional  framework  under  which  we  have 
enjoyed  peace  and  prosperity,  and  from  a  small  and 
feeble  people  grown  and  expanded  to  a  rank  among 
the  first  nations  of  the  earth. 

"  The  enormity  of  this  rebellion  is  heightened  by 
the  consideration  that  no  valid  cause  exists  for  it. 
The  history  of  the  civilized  world  does  not  furnish  an 
instance  where  a  revolution  was  attempted  for  such 
slight  causes.  No  act  of  oppression,  no  attempted  or 
threatened  invasion  of  the  rights  of  the  revolting 
States,  has  existed,  either  on  the  part  of  the  general 
government  or  of  the  loyal  States ;  but  the  principle 
has  been  recognized  and  observed,  that  the  right  of 


GREAT    REBELLION.  97 

each  and  every  State  to  regulate  its  domestic  institu 
tions  should  remain  inviolate. 

"  The  inception  and  progress  of  this  rebellion  have 
been  remarkable,  and  characterized  at  every  stage  by 
a  total  absence  of  any  high  honorable  principle  or 
motive  in  its  leaders. 

"  Its  master  spirits  are  composed,  essentially,  of  men 
who  have  been  in  high  official  position  in  the  general 
government ;  and  it  has  transpired  that  members  of 
the  late  Cabinet  at  Washington,  while  in  the  exercise 
of  their  official  functions,  were  engaged  in  treasonable 
plots  for  seizing  the  public  property  and  subverting  the 
United  States  government. 

"  Conventions  of  delegates  in  the  revolting  States, 
chosen,  in  some  instances,  by  a  minority  of  the  legal 
voters  of  those  States,  have,  with  indecent  haste, 
adopted  ordinances  of  secession,  which  ordinances 
have  in  no  instance  been  submitted  to  the  people  for 
their  ratification. 

"  These  proceedings  have  been  followed  by  a  con 
vention  of  delegates  from  the  several  revolting  States, 
which  convention  has  organized  a  confederate  govern 
ment,  adopted  a  constitution,  elected  its  executive 
officers  and  subordinate  functionaries,  constituted  it 
self  into  a  legislative  body,  and  enacted  a  code  of  laws, 
—  all  which  proceedings  have  been  independent  of  any 
action  of  the  people  of  those  States. 


98  VERMONT   IN    THE 

"  The  authorities  of  the  revolting  States,  and  sub 
sequently  that  of  their  confederacy,  have  proceeded  to 
acts  of  robbery  and  theft  upon  the  property  of  the 
United  States  within  their  limits.  Forts,  arsenals, 
arras,  military  stores,  and  other  public  property,  have 
been  seized  and  appropriated  for  use  against  the  power 
of  the  general  government;  and  custom-houses  and 
mints  in  Southern  cities,  with  large  amounts  of  treas 
ure,  have  been  feloniously  robbed. 

"  These  acts  have  been  followed  by  military  demon 
strations  and  strategetical  operations  against  the  Unit 
ed  States  forts  at  Pensacola  and  Charleston,  the  lat 
ter  of  which,  under  its  gallant  commander,  Major 
Anderson,  after  a  bombardment  of  thirty-four  hours, 
from  beleaguering  batteries  of  the  insurgents,  was 
evacuated  on  the  13th  instant,  and  the  flag  of  the 
Union  withdrawn.  But  the  crowning  act  of  perfidy, 
on  the  part  of  the  conspirators,  is  the  proclamation  of 
Jefferson  Davis,  styling  himself  the  President  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy,  '  inviting  all  those  who  may 
desire,  by  service  in  private-armed  vessels  on  the  high 
seas,  to  aid  his  government,  to  make  application  for 
commissions,  or  letters  of  marque  or  reprisal ; '  thus 
instituting  a  grand  scheme  of  piracy  on  the  high  seas 
against  the  lives  and  private  property  of  peaceful 
citizens. 

"These  acts  of  outrage  and  daring  rebellion  have 


GKEAT    REBELLION.  99 

been  equaled  only  by  the  forbearance  of  the  general 
government.  Unwilling  to  precipitate  a  conflict  which 
must  involve  the  country  in  all  the  calamities  of  civil 
war,  the  present  government  of  the  United  States  has 
exhausted  every  effort  for  peace,  and  every  measure 
for  bringing  back  to  their  allegiance  these  disaffected 
and  misguided  States. 

"  The  duty  of  protecting  the  forts  and  government 
property,  not  possessed  by  the  insurgents,  was  impera 
tive  upon  the  administration;  but  further  than  this, 
no  measures  for  coercing  the  revolting  States  into  obe 
dience  to  the  constitution  and  the  laws  were  adopted, 
and  in  the  matter  of  the  beleaguered  forts,  the  gov 
ernment  acted  only  on  the  defensive,  until  the  conflict 
was  commenced  by  the  insurgents. 

"  Such  forbearance  on  the  part  of  the  government, 
while  it  has  served  to  place  the  conspirators  in  a  moral 
wrong,  is  no  longer  justifiable;  and  the  country  hails 
with  entire  unanimity  and  with  ardent  enthusiasm  the 
decision  of  the  President  to  call  into  requisition  the 
whole  power  of  the  nation  for  suppressing  the  rebel 
lion,  and  repelling  threatened  aggressions. 

"  From  every  part  of  the  country,  in  all  the  loyal 
States,  there  is  one  united  voice  for  sustaining  the 
Union,  the  Constitution,  and  the  integrity  of  the 
United  States  government.  All  partisan  differences  are 
ignored  and  lost  in  the  higher  principles  of  patriotism. 


100  VEEMONT  IN  THE; 

"In  this  patriotic  enthusiasm  Vermont  eminently 
participates.  Her  citizens,  always  loyal  to  the  Union, 
will,  in  this  hour  of  peril,  nobly  rally  for  the  protection 
of  the  government  and  the  constitution. 

"  On  the  fifteenth  instant,  the  President  of  the 
United  States  issued  his  proclamation,  '  calling  forth 
the  militia  of  the  several  States  of  the  Union,  to  the 
aggregate  number  of  seventy-five  thousand,  in  order 
to  suppress  treasonable  combinations,  and  cause  the 
laws  to  be  duly  executed.' 

"The  quota  required  of  Vermont,  for  immediate  ser 
vice,  is  one  regiment  of  seven  hundred  and  eighty  offi 
cers  and  privates. 

"  On  receiving  the  requisition  from  the  Secretary  of 
War  for  this  regiment,  I  ordered  the  adjutant  and  in 
spector  general  to  adopt  the  proper  measures  for  call 
ing  into  service  such  of  the  volunteer  companies  as 
are  necessary  to  make  up  the  complement ;  and  the 
quartermaster  general  was  directed  to  procure,  with 
the  least  possible  delay,  the  requisite  outfit  of  knap 
sacks,  overcoats,  blankets,  and  other  equipments ;  which 
duty  he  has  performed. 

"Having  adopted  the  foregoing  preliminary  measures 
for  responding  to  the  call  of  the  President,  I  availed 
myself  of  the  constitutional  provision  for  convening 
the  general  assembly  of  an  extra  session,  not  doubting 
that  you,  gentlemen,  representing  the  universally  ex- 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  101 

pressed  patriotism  of  the  citizens  of  this  State,  will 
make  all  necessary  appropriations  and  provisions  for 
defraying  the  expenses  already  incurred,  and  carrying 
into  execution  further  measures  for  placing  our  military 
quota  at  the  service  of  the  general  government. 

"  Conceiving  it  imminently  probable  that,  at  an  early 
day,  further  calls  may  be  made  upon  this  State  for 
troops,  I  respectfully  call  your  attention  to  the  impor 
tance  of  adopting  immediate  measures  for  a  more 
efficient  organization  of  the  military  arm  of  the  State. 

"  During  the  long  interval  of  peace  which  we  have 
enjoyed,  while  our  citizens  have  been  uninterrupted  in 
their  lawful  industrial  pursuits,  the  importance  of  a 
military  organization  and  discipline  has  been  lost  sight 
of.  Our  laws  in  relation  to  the  militia  have  been  sub 
jected,  during  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  to  numer 
ous  isolated  amendments  and  alterations,  until,  as  a 
code,  they  are  disjointed,  complicated,  and  altogether 
too  cumbrous  for  the  basis  of  a  regular  and  effective 
organization.  I  therefore  recommend  that  the  Legis 
lature  should  promptly  remedy  these  defects,  and  adopt 
such  enactments  as  shall  provide  effectively  for  organ 
izing,  arming,  and  equipping  the  militia  of  the  State, 
and  for  reasonably  compensating  the  officers  and  pri 
vates  when  required  to  meet  for  exercise  and  drill. 

"I  desire  also  to  urge  upon  you  the  duty  of  making 
contingent  appropriations  of  money,  to  be  expended, 


102  VEEMONT   IN   THE 

under  the  direction  of  the  Executive,  for  the  outfit  of 
any  additional  military  forces  which  may  be  called  for 
by  the  general  government. 

"  The  occasion  is  an  extraordinary  one.  Intelligence 
reaches  us  that  the  Virginia  convention  of  delegates, 
elected  under  the  express  provision  that  any  ordinance 
adopted  by  them  should  be  submitted  to  the  people 
for  their  approval  or  rejection,  has,  in  secret  session, 
passed  an  ordinance  of  secession,  and  that  the  Governor 
of  the  State  has  assumed  to  order  the  seizure  of  the 
United  States  forts,  arsenals,  and  vessels  within  the 
limits  of  that  State. 

"  The  Federal  capital  is  menaced  by  an  imposing 
and  well-armed  military  force,  and  the  government  it 
self,  and  the  national  archives,  are  in  imminent  peril. 

"  Such  is  the  emergency,  in  view  of  which  Ijnvoke 
your  immediate  action.  The  Legislatures  of  other 
States  have  made  liberal  appropriations  and  extensive 
military  arrangements  for  aiding  the  government,  and 
their  citizens  are  hastening  to  the  rescue  of  our  coun 
try's  flag.  We  shall  discredit  our  past  history  should 
we,  in  this  crisis,  suffer  Vermont  to  be  behind  her 
sister  States  in  her  patriotic  sacrifices  for  the  preserva 
tion  of  the  Union  and  the  constitution. 

"  I  feel  assured,  gentlemen,  that  you  will  best  reflect 
the  sentiments  and  wishes  of  your  constituents,  by 
emulating  in  your  legislative  action  the  patriotism  and 


GEEAT    REBELLION.  103 

liberality  of  the  noble  States  which  have  already  re 
sponded,  to  the  call  of  the  government. 

"  It  is  devoutly  to  be  hoped  that  the  mad  ambition 
of  the  secession  leaders  may  be  restrained,  and  the  im 
pending  sanguinary  conflict  averted.  But  a  hesitating, 
half-way  policy  on  the  part  of  the  administration  of  the 
loyal  States  will  not  avail  to  produce  such  a  result. 

"  The  United  States  government  must  be  sustained, 
and  the  rebellion  suppressed,  at  whatever  cost  of  men 
and  treasure ;  and  it  remains  to  be  seen  whether  the 
vigorous  preparations  that  are  being  made,  and  the  im 
mense  military  force  called  into  service  by  the  Presi 
dent,  are  not  the  most  probable  and  certain  measures 
for  a  speedy  and  successful  solution  of  the  question. 

"  May  the  Divine  Being,  who  rules  among  the  na 
tions,  and  directs  the  affairs  of  men,  interpose  by  his 
merciful  providence,  and  restore  to  us  again  the  blessing 
of  peace,  under  the  aegis  of  our  national  constitution." 

This  call  of  the  Governor  for  prompt  and  efficient 
action  by  the  Legislature  of  Vermont  was  not  made  in 
vain.  He  did  not  misjudge  the  patriotism  of  the  peo 
ple,  or  the  willingness  of  their  representatives,  to  ren 
der  all  needed  aid  to  the  government  for  the  protec 
tion  of  her  beloved  flag  and  the  upholding  of  the  laws. 
No  time  was  spent  in  useless  discussion  as  to  the  pre 
cise  way  that  succor  should  be  given  to  the  Executive 


104  VERMONT   IN   THE 

of  the  nation,  but  acts  were  immediately  passed  appro 
priating  one  million  dollars  fqi-  arming,  equipping,  and 
holding,  subject  to  orders  from  the  War  Department, 
the  militia  of  the  State,  and  doing  other  things  to  send 
promptly  to  the  field  any  required  troops,  pay  them 
a  fair  equivalent  for  their  services  while  fighting  the 
battles  of  the  country,  and  taking  care  of  the  dear 
ones  they  should  leave  behind  them.  The  Legislature 
placed  the  responsibility  of  raising,  organizing,  uni 
forming,  arming,  equipping,  and  subsisting  the  regi 
ments  in  the  hands  of  the  Governor,  giving  him  au 
thority  to  draw  his  warrants  on  the  State  Treasurer  for 
all  expenditures. 

All  this  was  done,  and  the  Legislature  adjourned  on 
the  27th  of  April,  four  days  after  assembling.  The 
promptness  and  decisive  energy  of  that  body  of  law 
givers  was  an  example  for  every  young  man  in  the 
State  to  imitate,  by  enrolling  himself  "  for  the  war ; " 
and  most  nobly  and  patriotically  did  they  do  it.  Al 
most  every  farm,  workshop,  mill,  counting-room,  and 
office  in  the  State  sent  forth  to  the  field  its  representa 
tive  ;  and  many  of  them,  alas !  never  returned. 

During  the  whole  four  years'  continuance  of  the  war, 
Vermont  was  ever  ready  with  her  men  and  her  treas 
ure  to  aid  the  government  whenever  and  however 
called  upon.  Such  was  the  character  of  her  popula 
tion  that  a  greater  percentage  of  native-born  citizens 


GREAT   REBELLION.  105 

was  sent  than  from  any  other  State,  and  the  reputation 
of  her  troops  for  bravery,  endurance,  and  intelligence 
was  deservedly  very  high. 

When  the  war  first  broke  out,  it  was  presumed  that 
other  troops  than  those  required  to  fill  her  share  of  the 
seventy-five  thousand  first  called  for  by  the  President 
might  be  needed  from  Vermont  before  the  rebellion, 
the  proportions  of  which  were  very  little  understood, 
should  be  suppressed ;  and  it  was  supposed  that  should 
she  send  three  full  regiments,  and  keep  their  constantly 
decimating  ranks  filled  by  new  enlistments,  she  would 
be  taxed  to  the  extent  of  her  capacity.  In  the  four 
years,  however,  she  furnished  eighteen  regiments,  three 
batteries,  and  three  detached  companies.  The  original 
enlistments,  and  the  recruits  sent  forward  to  the  sev 
eral  organizations  to  fill  their  decimated  ranks,  from 
time  to  time,  made  an  aggregate  of  34,238  men,  at  an 
expense  to  the  State  of  $9,087,353.40,  of  which  the 
sum  of  $5,215,787.70  was  expended  by  the  several 
towns,  in  their  municipal  capacity,  without  expectation 
of  repayment. 

Of  these  34,238  men  enlisted,  5124  were  killed,  and 
died  of  wounds,  and  disease  contracted  in  the  service, 
and  5022  were  discharged  from  the  service  before  the 
expiration  of  their  term  of  enlistment,  by  reason  of 
disability.  The  late  adjutant  general,  in  his  report, 
gives  the  total  loss  in  all  the  various  forms  of  casualty, 
at  13,724  officers  and  men. 


106  VERMONT  IN   THE 

When  we  have  these  facts  of  the  number  of  troops 
furnished,  the  lives  lost,  physical  constitutions  broken 
down,  and  money  expended  by  the  small  State  of  Ver 
mont,  and  remember  that  other  States  did  their  share 
as  well,  we  can  make  some  sort  of  a  just  estimate  of 
the  total  cost  in  life  and  treasure  to  the  loyal  States  of 
the  four  years  of  the  Great  Rebellion.  And  yet  such 
are  the  resources  and  the  recuperative  powers  of  the 
loyal  States  that  after  four  years  of  peace  we  have  but 
few  reminders  of  the  sanguinary  struggle  left,  except 
here  and  there  a  vacant  place  by  the  family  hearth 
stone  ;  an  occasional  empty  sleeve ;  a  missing  leg,  left 
upon  the  battle-field;  innumerable  scarred  veterans 
halting  by  us,  carrying  about  with  them  unmistakable 
evidence  of  many  well-fought  battles ;  and  a  small  in 
crease  of  public  rates. 

The  history  of  the  services  of  the  Vermont  regi 
ments  in  the  field  —  the  battles  in  which  they  engaged 
and  the  sieges  they  passed  —  is  yet  to  be  written. 
Here  they  can  have  but  a  passing  notice.  They  can 
be  rewarded  for  their  hardships  and  sacrifices  only  by 
the  consciousness  of  duty  to  their  country  well  and 
nobly  performed. 

FIKST  REGIMENT. 

This  regiment  was  enlisted  for  three  months,  but  in 
that  time  did  just  the  service  that  was  required  at  that 


GREAT    REBELLION.  107 

stage  of  the  war.  They  were  engaged  in  several  re- 
connoissances,  and  one  severe  battle,  —  that  of  Big 
Bethel,  —  in  which  they  behaved  bravely.  The  follow 
ing  is  the  report  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
regiment  in  that  engagement:  — 

"  CAMP  BUTLER,  AT  NEWPORT  NEWS,  VA.,  > 
June  11,  1861.  \ 

"  To  J.  W.  PHEL^S,  Colonel  First  Regiment  Ver 
mont  Volunteers,  commanding  the  Post. 

"  SIR  :  Pursuant  to  your  order,  I  left  camp  between 
twelve  and  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  10th, 
with  five  companies  of  the  Vermont  Regiment,  being 
the  2d  Co.,  Captain  Pelton ;  the  4th  Co.,  Captain  An- 
dros ;  the  6th  Co.,  Captain  Boynton ;  the  8th  Co.,  Cap 
tain  Peck;  and  the  10th  Co.,  Captain  Ripley;  and  five 
companies  of  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment, 
being  Co.  F,  Captain  Shepard ;  Co.  G-,  Captain  Gor 
don ;  Co.  H,  Captain  .  Curtis ;  Co.  K,  Captain  Barnes, 
and  Co.  M  (rifles),  Captain  Clark.  The  strength  of 
the  command  was,  Vermont  Regiment,  13  officers  and 
262  men  ;  Massachusetts  Regiment,  15  officers  and  248 
men,  making  a  total  of  28  officers  and  510  men. 

"  Colonel  Benedix,  with  a  detachment  of  the  Sev 
enth  New  York  Volunteers,  followed  my  detachment, 
with  two  field-pieces  and  eleven  artillerists,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Greble,  of  the  Second  Artil 
lery.  The  march  proceeded  quietly,  and  with  great 


108  VERMONT    IN    THE 

dispatch,  until  we  were  within  about  -half  a  mile  of 
Little  Bethel, —  our  place  of  designation,  —  Colonel 
Benedix  having  halted  with  his  detachment  and  one 
field-piece,  at  the  junction  of  the  road  from  Newport 
News  with  the  road  from  Hampton,  and  Lieutenant 
Greble  having  followed  in  the  rear  of  my  detachment 
with  one  gun.  While  continuing  the  march,  heavy 
firing  of  small  arms  was  heard  in  our  rear,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Colonel  Benedix's  detachment.  When  it  had 
continued  so  long  and  sharply  that  it  appeared  to  me 
that  it  was  a  serious  attack,  I  countermarched  my 
troops  and  returned  to  the  place  where  Colonel  Bene 
dix  was  stationed,  and  found  that  he  was  opposed  by  a 
large  body  of  troops,  coming  from  the  direction  of 
Hampton,  a  portion  of  whom  I  could  then  see  upon  a 
rise  of  land  in  front.  I  immediately  formed  my  com 
mand  in  order  of  battle,  and  then,  fearing  that  they 
were  our  friends,  I  caused  my  whole  line  to  shout 
4  Boston ! '  together,  four  times.  Receiving  no  response, 
I  advanced  my  line,  and  was  fired  upon  from  a  how 
itzer,  the  fire  doing  us  no  injury.  The  enemy,  as  I 
then  supposed  them  to  be,  then  disappeared,  and  I 
went  forward  to  a  house  near  by,  where  I  found  a  num 
ber  of  wounded  men,  who  stated  that  they  belonged 
to  Colonel  Townshend's  New  York  Regiment.  At  this 
time  Colonel  Duryea,  with  his  regiment,  who  had  also 
heard  the  firing,  and  who  had  reached  Little  Bethel  at 


GREAT   REBELLION.  109 

about  the  same  time  that  I  should  have  reached  that 
place  if  my  march  had  not  been  interrupted,  came  to 
the  same  place,  and  General  Pierce,  who  had  been  with 
Colonel  Townshend's  regiment,  also  came  up.  Gen 
eral  Pierce  then  assumed  command  of  all  the  troops, 
and  by  his  order  I  moved  my  detachment  on  to  Great 
Bethel.  The  enemy  we  found  there,  intrenched  in 
force.  Pursuant  to  the  orders  of  the  general,  I  formed 
my  troops  in  line  of  battle,  in  rear  of  Colonel  Towns 
hend's  regiment.  Previous  to  this,  General  Pierce  had 
taken  from  my  command  one  half  of  Captain  Shepard's 
Company  F,  of  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Volunteers, 
to  guard  certain  stores  at  Little  Bethel,  taking  three 
non-commissioned  officers  and  twenty-one  privates. 
After  forming  line  of  battle,  General  Pierce  directed 
that  two  of  my  companies  be  detached  as  skirmishers, 
to  hold  the  woods  upon  our  left,  and  prevent  a  flank 
attack.  The  eighth  and  tenth  Companies  of  the  First 
Vermont  Regiment  were  detached  for  that  service,  and 
were  thus  entirely  separated  from  my  command.  Im 
mediately  afterwards,  Captain  Clark's  rifles  (Co.  M),  of 
the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  and  the  residue  of 
Captain  Shepard's  Company,  were  also  detached  by 
General  Pierce  and  sent  into  the  woods,  to  act  as 
skirmishers  in  connection  with  Colonel  Duryea's  Regi 
ment,  and  were  thus  separated  from  my  command.  I 
then  received  an  order  from  General  Pierce  to  move 


110  VERMONT    IN    THE 

through  the  woods,  beyond  the  right  of  the  Zouaves, 
and  attack  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy's  battery.  No 
other  direction  as  to  location  was  given,  and  no  guide 
was  sent  with  me.  I  moved  through  the  woods, 
which  were  very  close  and  tangled,  and,  after  consider 
able  difficulty,  succeeded  in  placing  my  men  in  the 
proper  position,  and  opened  fire. 

"  The  attack  by  my  men  was  very  spirited,  and  the 
firing  from  both  sides  very  warm.  Soon  after  I  com 
menced  the  attack,  the  firing  ceased  upon  every  other 
part  of  the  work,  and  the  enemy's  fire  appeared  to  be 
concentrated  upon  us.  While  making  the  attack,  I 
was  joined  by  Colonel  Benedix  with  a  body  of  his 
men,  probably  sixty  in  all.  After  the  firing  had  con 
tinued  about  twenty  minutes,  the  enemy  brought  their 
artillery  to  bear  upon  us  with  grape  shot ;  and  finding 
that  I  was  not  supported  by  any  fire  or  attack  elsewhere, 
except  an  occasional  fire  from  Lieutenant  Greble's 
guns,  I  ceased  firing,  and  withdrew  my  men,  in  good 
order,  under  cover  of  the  woods.  There  the  compa 
nies  became  separated,  so  that,  in  forming  line,  I  found 
with  me  only  Captain  Pelton's  Company  of  the  First 
Vermont  Regiment,  and  Captain  Barnes'  and  Captain 
Curtis'  Companies  of  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment,  and  a  few  men  from  the  Fourth  and  Sixth  Com 
panies  of  the  Vermont  Regiment.  After  remaining 
in  line  until  all  the  men  had  come  in  from  the  point 


GEE  AT    REBELLION.  Ill 

of  attack,  I  returned  with  those  men  to  the  place 
where  I  had  first  formed.  I  then  found  that  Colonel 
Duryea's  Regiment  had  retired,  and  were  then  out  of 
sight,  and  Colonel  Townshend's  Regiment  were  also 
retiring.  All  of  my  detachment  assembled  quietly, 
and  I  formed  line  of  battle  again  upon  the  ground  I 
had  first  occupied,  and  reported  to  General  Pierce  for 
further  orders,  and  was  told  by  him  that  he  had  or 
dered  a  retreat,  and  was  directed  to  retire  with  my 
command.  I  retired  about  fifty  rods,  and  then  halted 
until  the  wounded  had  been  got  ready  for  transporta 
tion,  and  the  two  field-pieces  had  been  brought  off. 
One  I  left  with  General  Pierce,  and  the  other  I  moved 
off  to  the  rear,  when  General  Pierce  informed  me  that 
the  one  left  had  been  disabled,  and  directed  me  to  leave 
the  other  for  Colonel  Allen's  Regiment,  to  cover  the 
retreat;  and  I  did  so.  Both  were  taken  by  General 
Pierce  to  Fort  Monroe.  I  then  commenced  the  return 
march,  arriving  in  camp  toward  night. 

"  The  expedition  was  a  most  exhausting  one  for  all 
under  my  command.  In  eighteen  hours  the  men 
marched  some  thirty-five  miles,  and  were  engaged  in 
battle  with  very  slight  rest,  and  no  food  except  a  little 
hard  bread.  Before  commencing  the  battle  they  had 
been  under  arms  nine  hours  without  refreshment. 
The  strength  of  the  companies  with  which  I  made  the 
assault  upon  the  works  was,  at  that  time,  Vermont 


112  VERMONT   IN   THE 

companies,  5  officers  and  148  men ;  Massachusetts 
companies,  9  officers  and  127  men:  total,  289.  The 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing  were  7 :  viz.,  Vermont, 
3  wounded,  1  missing;  Massachusetts,  2  killed,  1  mor 
tally  wounded.  Captain  Andros,  of  Vermont,  was 
among  the  wounded. 

"  The  officers  and  men  who  were  left  under  my  im 
mediate  command  behaved  with  perfect  coolness,  and 
kept  perfect  order,  both  in  the  advance  through  the 
woods  and  in  the  attack  upon  the  works.  Every  one 
went  into  the  engagement,  and  fought  manfully,  and 
without  flinching.  "Where  all  behaved  so  well,  I  can 
not  particularize  any  of  those  under  my  immediate 
eye.  It  would  be  invidious  to  do  so.  I  particularly 
noticed  the  coolness  and  bravery  of  Major  Whitte- 
more,  of  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  who  was 
my  second  in  command ;  of  Captains  Pelton  and  An 
dros,  and  Lieutenant  Webb,  of  the  Vermont  Regi 
ment;  and  of  Captains  Barnes,  Curtis,  and  Gordon, 
of  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment.  Captain  Pel- 
ton  was  the  first  man  who  mounted  the  bank  in  face 
of  the  enemy,  and  he  retained  his  exposed  situation 
during  most  of  the  attack.  Captain  Andros  reports 
privates  A.  H.  Stover,  George  W.  Flanders,  Burnham 
Caverly,  and  A.  J.  Going,  of  the  Fourth  Company  of 
the  Vermont  Regiment  as  entitled  to  commendation. 
The  other  captains  report  that  all  their  men  behaved 


GREAT   REBELLION.  113 

with  so  much  resolution  and  courage  that  they  cannot 
particularize  any.  To  Major  Whittemore  I  am  much 
indebted  for  the  compact  order  and  effective  position 
upon  the  march  in  which  the  men  were  kept.  In  the 
attack  he  was  in  the  foremost  lines. 

"I  return  herewith  the  reports  of  Captains  Ripley 
and  Peck,  of  the  Vermont  Regiment,  and  Captains 
Shepard  and  Clark,  of  the  Fourth  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment,  who  were  taken  from  under  my  command  by 
General  Pierce,  and  who  were  not  afterward  with 
me  until  the  action  had  closed. 

"  I  regret  to  be  compelled  to  report  also  the  death 
of  Lieutenant  Greble.  He  occupied,  with  his  guns, 
the  most  exposed  position  in  the  attack,  and  worked 
them  with  most  perfect  coolness  and  bravery  during 
the  action.  He  was  killed  by  the  last  discharge  but 
one  which  was  fired  by  the  enemy.  The  men  under 
his  command  are  justly  entitled  to  great  credit.  They 
fought  bravely,  brought  off  all  their  guns,  and  also 
the  body  of  Lieutenant  Greble.  From  information 
received  by  me,  I  particularly  mention  Corporal  Pee- 
ples,  and  also  private  Bisgard  of  Company  F,  of  the 
Third  United  States  Artillery. 

"From  my  personal    observation,  I  believe  Major 
Winthrop,  of  Major  General  Butler's   staff,  to  have 
been  killed  during  my  attack.    He  came  to  me  dur 
ing  the  midst  of  the  attack,  and  rushed  forward,  and 
8 


114  VERMONT    IN    THE 

one  of  my  men,  describing  his  uniform,  appearance, 
and  arms  accurately,  states  that  he  fell  by  his  side. 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"PETER  T.  WASHBURN, 
"Lieutenant  Colonel  First  Vermont  Volunteers" 

The  following,  in  reference  to  this  First  Vermont 
Regiment,  is  an  extract  from  an  oration  before  the  Re 
union  Society  of  Vermont  Officers,  at  Montpelier,  in  Oc 
tober,  1868,  by  General  P.  T.  Washburn,  who  was  lieu 
tenant  colonel  and  much  of  the  time  its  commander :  — 

"  Of  the  First  Regiment  of  Vermont  Volunteers  I 
must  be  allowed  to  speak  with  pride.  They  were  the 
first  to  volunteer  from  the  State.  The  order  for  their 
organization  was  issued  on  the  23d  of  April;  they 
were  in  camp  on  the  3d  of  May ;  left  the  State  on  the 
9th ;  bore  proudly  through  the  streets  of  New  York 
the  little  sprig  of  evergreen,  which  designated  each 
man  as  one  of  the  noble  race  of  Green  Mountain  Boys, 
whose  fathers  had  fought  and  won  at  Bennington,  and 
whose  sons  had  maintained  the  integrity  of  their  sires, 
until  they  had  gained  for 'their  State  the  proud  title  of 
'the  Star  that  never  sets.'  They  were  in  Fortress 
Monroe  on  the  13th,  —  too  late  to  save  Norfolk,  with 
its  immense  armament,  which  treachery  had  surren 
dered  to  treason  only  a  few  days  preceding  their 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  115 

arrival,  —  but  seasonably  to  preserve  the  fortress  from 
'capture  by  the  rebel  bands  which  then  swarmed  under 
its  very  walls,  and  effectually  blockaded  every  approach 
by  land.  They  served  faithfully  their  term.  The 
name  of  the  first  battle  of  the  war  is  inscribed  upon 
their  record  ;  and  when  they  returned  to  be  disbanded, 
it  was  but  to  tender  service  again  in  other  organiza 
tions,  again  to  maintain  the  honor  of  the  State  and  the 
integrity  of  the  nation  in  field  and  camp.  The  history 
of  every  subsequent  organization,  the  history  of  Ver 
mont  in  the  war,  is  in  part  their  history." 

The  men  composing  this  regiment  were  all  esteemed 
citizens  at  home,  and  most  of  them  left  profitable  busi 
ness  and  took  up  arms  when  their  country  called.  As 
the  cars  were  leaving  Rutland,  one  of  the  privates, 
in  response  to  the  cheers  of  the  people,  said,  — 

"  The  Vermont  Regiment,  citizens  in  peace,  soldiers 
in  war,  give  you  the  sentiment  embodied  in  the  charge 
of  the  Grecian  matron  to  her  son,  *  We  will  bring  back 
our  shields,  or  be  brought  back  upon  them,' " 

More  than  six  hundred  of  the  men  who  composed 
the  First  Regiment  subsequently  joined  other  organiza 
tions,  and  served  through  the  war.  More  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty  of  them  held  commissions  of  every 
grade,  from  second  lieutenant  to  brigadier  general. 
Selden  Conner,  who  was  a  private  in  the  Woodstock 
Company,  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel  in  the 


116  VERMONT   IN    THE 

Seventh  Maine  Regiment,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier  general.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battles  of 
the  Wilderness.  Samuel  H.  Lincoln,  private  in  the 
Woodstock  Company,  was  afterwards  colonel  of  the 
Sixth  Vermont  Regiment.  Captain  Oscar  S.  Tuttle, 
of  the  First,  was  afterward  colonel  of  the  Sixth  Ver 
mont.  Lieutenant  George  T.  Roberts,  of  the  Rutland 
Company,  was  afterwards  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Ver 
mont  Regiment.  He  was  killed  at  Baton  Rouge.  Cap 
tain  David  B.  Peck,  of  the  Burlington  Company,  was 
lieutenant  colonel  and  then  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regi 
ment.  The  regiment  was  so  much  reduced  in  numbers 
that  he  was  not  mustered  as  colonel.  Captain  Dudley 
K.  Andros,  of  the  Bradford  Company,  was  afterward 
colonel  of  the  Ninth  Regiment.  Lieutenant  Albert  B. 
Jewett,  of  the  Swanton  Company,  was  afterward 
colonel  of  the  Tenth  Regiment.  Private  William  T. 
Nichols,  of  the  Rutland  Company,  was  afterward 
colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment. 

So  much  room  would  not  be  devoted  to  the  record 
of  this  regiment  but  for  its  very  remarkable  history, 
and  the  fact  that  its  period  of  service  was  a  most 
interesting  one  in  the  great  war. 

VERMONT  BRIGADE. 

The  history  of  the  "  Vermont  Brigade  "  is  honorable 
alike  to  itself  and  the  State  from  which  it  went,  whose 


GREAT   REBELLION.  117 

name  it  bore  upon  its  banner.  In  the  autumn  of  1862, 
the  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Sixth  Regiments, 
of  Vermont  Infantry,  were  brigaded  together,  and  con 
stituted  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Sixth 
Corps,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  On  the  10th  of 
May,  1864,  the  Eleventh  Regiment  was  added.  It 
acquired  the  distinctive  name  of  the  "Vermont  Bri 
gade,"  and  as  such  did  the  State  and  whose  young  men 
composed  it  great  honor  on  many  hard-fought  fields. 
It  was  successively  commanded  by  Brigadier  Generals 
W.  F.  Smith,  W.  T.  II.  Brooks,  Colonel  Henry  Whi 
ting,  and  Brigadier  General  L.  A.  Grant.  It  partici 
pated  in  nearly  every  battle  in  which  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  was  engaged,  and  always  with  bravery  and 
distinction.  • 

The  Second  Regiment  was  successively  commanded 
by  Colonel  Henry  Whiting,  of  Michigan,  a  graduate 
of  West  Point,  who  resigned  in  February,  1863 ; 
James  II.  Walbridge,  of  Bennington,  who  resigned  in 
April,  1864;  Newton  Stone,  of  Bennington,  who  was 
killed  at  the  Wilderness,  Virginia,  May  5,  1864 ;  John 
S.  Tyler,  of  Brattleboro',  who  died  May  23',  1864,  of 
wounds  received  in  the  Wilderness;  and  Amasa  S. 
Tracy,  who  was,  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  July 
15,  1865.  Before  being  brigaded  with  the  other 
Vermont  regiments,  the  Second  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861. 


118  VEEMONT   IN   THE 

The  Third  Regiment  was  successively  commanded 
by  Colonels  William  F.  Smith,  a  native  of  Vermont, 
graduate  of  West  Point,  who  was  promoted  brigadier 
general  of  volunteers  August  13,  1861;  Breed  N. 
Hyde,  of  Hydepark,  who  resigned  January  15,  1863; 
Thomas  O.  Seaver,  of  Pomfret,  who  was  mus 
tered  out  of  service  July  27,  1864;  and  Horace  W. 
Floyd,  who  was  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  July 
11,  1865.  Before  the  formation  of  the  Vermont  Bri 
gade,  the  Third  Regiment  participated  in  the  battle  at 
Lewinsville,  September  11,  1861. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Colonels 
Edwin  H.  Stoughton,  of  Rockingham,  a  graduate  of 
West  Point,  who  was  promoted  brigadier  general  of 
volunteers  November  5,  1862 ;  Charles  B.  Stoughton, 
of  Rockingham,  who  resigned  by  reason  of  wounds, 
February  2,  1864;  George  P.  Foster,  of  Walden,  who 
was  breveted  brigadier  general  August  1,  1864,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  service  before  Richmond  and 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  was  mustered  out  of 
service  with  his  regiment,  July  13,  1865. 

The  Fifth  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Colonels 
Henry  A.  Smalley,  a  native  of  Vermont,  graduate  of 
West  Point,  and  captain  Second  United  States  Artil 
lery  (his  leave  of  absence  from  his  company  was  revoked 
September  10,  1862)  ;  Lewis  A.  Grant,  of  Rocking 
ham,  promoted  brigadier  general  of  volunteers  April 


GEE  AT   EEBELLION.  119 

27,  1864;  John  R.  Lewis,  of  Burlington,  wounded 
severely,  May  5,  1864,  appointed  colonel  of  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps  breveted  brigadier  general  of  volun 
teers  for  gallant  service  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
Virginia,  to  date  from  March  13,  1865;  Roland  A. 
Kennedy,  of  Concord,  who  entered  Company  I,  Third 
Regiment,  as  a  private,  in  June,  1861,  was  wounded 
May  4,  1863,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  Fifth 
Regiment,  June  29,  1865. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Nathan 
Lord,  Jr.,  of  Montpelier,  who  resigned  December  18, 
1862;  Oscar  S.  Tuttle,  of  Cavendish,  who  resigned 
March  18,  1863 ;  Elisha  L.  Barney,  of  S  wanton,  who 
died  May  10,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at 
the  Wilderness,  Virginia,  May  5,  1864;  Sumner  H. 
Lincoln,  who  was  a  private  in  Company  B,  was  wound 
ed  May  5,  1864;  mustered  out  with  his  regiment  June 
26,  1865. 

These  five  regiments  composed  the  Vermont  Bri 
gade,  and  they  were  together  and  participated  in  the 
same  marches  and  battles  during  nearly  their  whole 
term  of  service.  The  following  are  the  battles  in 
which  they  were  engaged:  — 

Lee's  Mills,  April  16,  1862. 

Williamsburg,  May  5,  1862. 

Golding's  Farm,  June  26,  1862. 

Savage  Station,  June  30  to  July  2,  1862. 


120 


VERMONT   IN   THE 


Crampton's  Gap, 

Antietam, 

Fredericksburg, 

Mayre's  Heights, 

Salem  Heights, 

Fredericksburg, 

Gettysburg, 

Funkstown, 

Rappahannock  Station, 

Wilderness, 

Spottsylvania, 

Cold  Harbor, 

Petersburg, 

Weldon  Railroad, 

Charlestown, 

Opequan, 

Winchester, 

Fisher's  Hill, 

Cedar  Creek, 

Petersburg, 

Petersburg, 


September  14,  1862. 
September  17,  1862. 
December  13,  1862. 
May  3,  1863. 
May  4,  1863. 
June  5,  1863. 
July  3,  1863. 
July  10,  1863. 
November  7,  1863. 
May  5  to  10,  1864. 
May  10  to  18,  1864. 
June  1  to  12,  1864. 
June  18,  1864. 
June  53,  1864. 
August  21,  1864. 
September  13,  1864. 
September  19,  1864. 
September  21  and  22,  1864. 
October  19,  1864. 
March  25  and  27,  1865. 
April  2,  1865. 


BATTLE    OF    LEE7S    MILLS. 

The  battle  of  Lee's  Mills  occurred  during  the  siege 
of  Yorktown,  and  in  it  the  Vermont  Brigade  per 
formed  a  conspicuous  and  important  part.  The  rebels 
were  strongly  intrenched  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 


GREAT    REBELLION.  121 

creek,  and  made  frequent  attacks  upon  our  troops  at 
night.  They  were  several  times  kept  under  arms 
through  the  night,  expecting  a  general  assault  by  the 
enemy.  Snapshooting  and  skirmishing  continued 
almost  without  intermission,  and  men  were  at  no  time 
safe  from  rebel  bullets.  Rebel  gunboats  approached 
the  mouth  of  Warwick  Creek,  and  with  their  assist 
ance  the  rebel  infantry  attempted  to  turn  our  left  flank, 
but  were  repulsed  and  driven  back. 

Lee's  Mills  are  about  two  miles  from  the  James  River, 
and  six  from  Yorktown.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th 
of  April,  1862,  the  Second  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps 
was  ordered  to  move,  and  it  was  understood  that  they 
were  to  make  an  assault  upon  the  enemy's  works. 
The  troops  were  massed  near  some  ruins,  known  as 
"The  Chimneys,"  the  Second,  or  Vermont  Brigade, 
holding  the  front  line,  supported  by  the  First  and  Third 
Brigades.  Warwick  Creek  here  makes  up  from  the 
James  River,  in  places  narrow  and  deep,  with  abrupt 
banks,  the  land  generally  spreading  out  into  marshes 
or  swamps.  On  the  west  side  were  two  rebel  forts, 
with  extensive  rifle-pits.  In  front  of  them  was  an  open 
space  of  some  two  or  three  hundred  rods,  and  in  the 
rear  a  dense  wood,  while  thick  wood  also  fringed  the 
forts  on  each  side.  On  the  enemy's  right  the  ravine 
through  which  the  waters  of  the  creek  flowed  ex 
panded  into  a  wet  swamp,  and  the  stream  was  so 


122  VERMONT   IN   THE 

dammed  up  below  as  to  flood  it,  thus  rendering  a 
flank  movement  in  that  direction  almost  impossible. 

A  little  farther  down  the  creek  the  rebels  had 
another  fort,  with  rifle-pits,  commanding  the  road  to 
Lee's  Mills,  which  passed  by  these  works  at  a  distance 
of  between  two  and  three  hundred  rods.  It  was 
resolved  to  drive  the  rebels  from  this  commanding 
position.  At  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a 
portion  of  the  Third  Vermont,  supported  by  Mott's 
Battery,  advanced,  as  skirmishers,  toward  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  creek.  The  first  shell  they  fired  exploded 
directly  over  the  rebel  fort.  With  a  well-manned 
battery  of  six  guns  our  troops  opened  upon  the  rebels, 
with  great  rapidity  and  precision,  a  deadly  fire  of  shot 
and  shell,  which  was  replied  to  with  equal  vigor. 
Their  first  shell  exploded  in  front  of  one  of  our  guns, 
killing  or  wounding  every  man  but  one. 

An  incessant  fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  for 
three  hours,  the  marshy  creek  alone  separating  the 
contending  forces.  Soon  one  half  the  guns  in  the 
rebel  forts  were  silenced  by  the  fire  from  our  batteries. 
The  rebels  then  ceased  to  reply,  and  evacuated  the  fort. 
Sharpshooters  were  sent  forward  to  reconnoiter,  but 
could  not  ascertain  what  had  become  of  the  garrison. 
We  had  thus  far  lost  seven  men,  and  no  enemy  was  to 
be  seen,  when  our  troops  had  three  or  four  hours 
for  rest. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  123 

At  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  rebels 
again  appeared  in  possession  of  another  breastwork, 
upon  which  they  had  mounted  several  guns.  They 
were  seen  swarming  through  the  woods  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  fort  in  large  numbers.  Mott's  Battery  had  been 
reenforced  by  Ayer's  and  Wheeler's  Batteries,  num 
bering,  in  all,  twenty-two  guns.  They  were  brought 
up  to  within  five  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  to  cover 
the  charge  of  the  Vermonters.  Two  companies  from 
the  Third  Vermont  were  ordered  forward,  and  down 
from  the  woods  they  came  in  most  gallant  style,  rushed 
into  the  creek,  where  the  water  and  mud  were  waist 
deep,  and  through  it  to  the  rifle-pits  of  the  enemy, 
amid  a  shower  of  bullets  from  a  long  line  of  rifle-pits 
upon  the  opposite  banks.  The  Vermonters  pressed 
forward,  loading  and  firing  as  they  advanced.  Their 
killed  and  many  of  their  wounded  sank  in  the  stream. 
"But,"  says  Abbott,  in  his  History  of  the  Civil  War, 
"their  comrades,  instead  of  turning  back  with  the 
wounded,  seized  them  by  the  arm  or  the  collar  of  the 
coat,  and  pushed  resolutely  on  to  meet  the  intrenched 
foe.  As  soon  as  they  got  foothold  on  the  western 
bank,  with  a  cheer,  which  rang  like  the  clarion  of 
victory,  they  made  a  dash  at  the  enemy,  concealed  in 
the  long  line  of  rifle-pits.  The  rebels,  in  panic,  fled, 
and  sought  protection  behind  the  redoubts.  The  vic 
tors  found,  to  their  dismay,  that  many  of  their  car- 


124  VEBMONT   IN   THE 

tridges  were  soaked  with  water  and  utterly  useless. 
Still  for  an  hour  they  fought  against  superior  numbers. 
The  rebels  were  behind  their  ramparts.  The  patriots, 
dividing  with  each  other  the  few  dry  cartridges  they 
possessed,  soon  found  their  ammunition  expended, 
while,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  no  reinforcements 
were  sent  to  support  them.  Why  the  men  should 
have  been  sent  across  the  creek  to  meet  a  vastly  out 
numbering  force,  and  then  be  left  there  to  be  massa 
cred,  no  one  has  yet  revealed.  It  is  a  mystery  which 
c<m,  perhaps,  be  explained,  but  unfortunately  it  has 
not  been,  and  we  leave  it,  as  another  of  the  long  list 
of  inexplicable  events  which  have  occurred  during  the 
progress  of  the  war." 

Being  unsupported  and  out  of  ammunition,  the 
brave  Green  Mountain  Boys  were  forced  to  fall  back 
and  recross  the  stream  under  a  terrible  fire  of  the 
enemy.  Before  they  could  reach  a  place  of  safety,  sad 
havoc  had  been  made  in  their  noble  ranks.  Many  of 
the  killed  sank  in  the  creek,  and  their  bodies  were 
never  recovered.  The  casualties  to  the  Vermont 
Brigade,  in  this  engagement,  were  as  follows :  — 

Second  Regiment,  1  killed;  Third  Regiment,  24 
killed,  7  mortally  wounded,  56  wounded,  1  missing; 
Fourth  Regiment,  3  killed,  30  wounded ;  Fifth  Regi 
ment,  2  killed,  6  wounded ;  Sixth  Regiment,  11  killed, 
77  wounded.  Total  loss  to  the  Brigade,  218. 


GEEAT    REBELLION.  125 

There  were  many  thrilling  instances  of  undaunted 
courage  connected  with  this  battle,  scores  of  which 
have  never  been  placed  upon  record.  The  Vermont- 
ers  retreated  in  good  order,  carrying  with  them  their 
wounded  comrades.  Many  were  shot  in  the  water.  A 
boy  of  sixteen,  who  was  in  the  midst  of  the  carnage, 
described  the  storm  of  lead  which  fell  upon  them  by 
saying,  "  Why,  sir,  it  was  just  like  sap-boiling,  in  that 
stream,  the  bullets  fell  so  thick." 

As  soon  as  the  Vermonters  reached  the  eastern 
bank,  they  rallied  and  commenced  the  fight  again. 
Many  of  them,  amidst  the  murderous  fire  of  the  rebels, 
dashed  back  again  into  the  stream  to  help  out  the 
wounded,  who  were  clinging  to  any  object  that  pre 
sented,  to  save  themselves.  Julian  A.  Scott,  of  the 
Third  Regiment,  under  sixteen  years  old,  went  back 
again  and  again,  seemingly  to  almost  certain  death,  and 
saved  nine  of  his  companions.  John  Harrington,  but 
seventeen  years  old,  having  returned  across  the  stream, 
through  the  terrific  fire  of  the  rebels,  saw  a  wounded 
comrade  left  in  one  of  the  rifle-pits.  He  immediately 
went  back  and  brought  him  away  in  safety.  Lieuten 
ant  Whittemore  watched  his  movements,  and  saved 
his  life  by  shooting  several  rebels  who  were  taking 
deliberate  aim  at  him. 

The  troops  were  saved  from  almost  total  destruction 
mainly  through  the  watchfulness  and  skill  of  Captain 


126  VEEMONT   IN   THE 

Ayre,  who  selected  just  the  right  position  for  his  bat 
teries  ;  and  the  moment  he  saw  the  rebels  form  to 
charge,  he  opened  upon  them  from  his  twenty-two 
guns  so  terrible  a  fire  that  they  did  not  dare  leave 
their  intrenchments.  The  fire  was  so  accurate  that 
every  rebel  cannon  was  silenced.  One  ball  swept  a 
whole  file  of  rebels  to  the  ground. 

Private  William  Scott,  of  Co.  K,  Third  Vermont, 
who,  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  was  found  asleep  at  his 
post  on  the  picket  line,  and  was  tried  and  sentenced  by 
court  martial  to  be  shot,  but  was  pardoned  by  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  was  among  the  mortally  wounded. 
When  his  pardon  was  announced  to  him,  he  said, 
with  streaming  eyes,  "  I  will  show  President  Lincoln 
that  I  am  not  afraid  to  die  for  ray  country."  He  died 
with  a  prayer  upon  his  lips  for  the  Martyr  President. 

Since  the  battle  of  Lee's  Mills,  when  General  Smith's 
division  were  only  waiting  for  an  order  to  cross  the 
stream  and  support  the  Vermonters,  it  has  been  ascer 
tained  that  the  reason  why  the  order  was  not  given  by 
General  McClellan,  who  was  in  command,  was  because 
he  did  not  wish  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement  at 
that  time. 

BATTLE    OF    WILLIAMSBtJEG. 

The  following  account  of  the  battle  of  Williams- 
burg,  which  occurred  on  the  5th  of  May,  1862,  is 
from  an  officer  in  the  Vermont  Brigade :  — 


GKEAT    REBELLION.  127 

"  CAMP  NEAR  WlLLIAMSBUKG,  VA.,  > 

May  7,  1862.  S 

"The  fight  commenced  at  daylight,  and  was  car 
ried  on  with  great  vigor  with  musketry  most  of  the 
day.  General  Smith's  division  was  on  the  right,  Gen 
eral  Hooker's  on  the  left,  with  some  others  on  his 
left. 

"  Our  brigade  was  not  directly  engaged  at  all,  and 
was  moved  toward  the  right,  and  then  to  the  left, 
wherever  the  commanding  general  deemed  the  rebels 
were  gaining  ground.  But  at  near  night  our  brigade 
turned  the  left  of  the  enemy's  line,  immediately  under 
General  Smith's  command,  where  General  Sumner  held 
us  to  support  the  left,  where  he  feared  the  enemy  would 
drive  our  troops. 

"  The  rebels  seemed  to  fight  with  desperation ;  but 
they  were  completely  whipped,  and  had  to  '  skedaddle' 
with  all  possible  speed. 

"  On  our  left  the  havoc  on  both  sides  was  immense, 
especially  in  Hooker's  division,  which  will  prove  to  be 
1500  or  more  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  loss 
in  our  brigade  was  12  killed  and  46  wounded,  and  the 
enemy's  loss  opposed  to  us  is  some  300  to  350  killed 
and  wounded. 

"  We  have  taken  a  great  number  of  prisoners,  and 
still  continue  to  bring  them  in.  Our  surgeons,  and 
some  of  theirs,  who  remained,  have  been  continually  at 


128  VERMONT    IN    THE 

work  up  to  this  time,  and  have  not  yet  finished  dressing 
the  wounded;  neither  are  the  dead  all  buried. 

"  I  think  this  battle  will  settle  all  doubts  about  Gen 
eral  Smith,  as  I  think  that  he  showed  himself  the 
greatest  general  on  the  field,  either  old  or  young, 
and  our  successes  ought  to  be  credited  to  him  and  his 
brave  troops ;  and  we  have  no  doubt,  if  he  could  have 
had  his  way,  we  should  have  had  a  more  complete  vic 
tory  ;  but  it  is,  at  all  events,  a  great  one,  and  we  are 
satisfied. 

"Where  the  rebels  will  make  another  stand  is  more 
than  I  can  tell,  as  they  have  now  no  strong  place  left. 
Their  men,  all  I  have  seen,  —  which  is  a  good  many,  — 
are  the  dirtiest  looking  human  beings  I  have  ever  met. 
I  should  think  six  months  in  such  condition  would  kill 
any  class  of  men.  The  roads  and  fields  are  strewn 
with  guns  and  equipments,  and  remind  me  of  Bull 
Run,  only  it  has  changed  sides." 


The  general  dejection  that  followed  the  retirement 
of  our  troops  across  the  Chickahominy  was  particu 
larly  relieved  by  the  good  news  of  two  considerable 
successes  by  the  division  of  General  Smith,  who  held  a 
position  on  the  extreme  right,  consisting  of  a  line  of 
breastworks  and  two  redoubts.  The  left  of  these  re 
doubts  was  strongly  constructed,  and  had  much  an- 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  129 

noyed  the  enemy,  who  had  reason  to  believe  that  if 
heavy  artillery  were  placed  on  it,  they  might  be  com 
pelled  to  evacuate  the  high  grounds  at  both  New 
Bridge  and  Old  Tavern.  Indeed,  it  commanded  these 
and  other  points. 

Accordingly,  when  assured  of  the  successes  of  the 
left  wing  of  their  army,  the  rebels  determined  to  seize 
the  opportunity  of  advancing  upon  Smith's  redoubt. 
This  duty  was  assigned  to  Toombs'  Georgia  Brigade, 
one  of  the  best  organizations  in  the  Confederate  ser 
vice.  They  drove  in  our  pickets  about  seven  o'clock 
on  Friday  evening,  June  28,  and  advanced,  with 
close  volleys  of  musketry,  in  two  lines  of  battle. 
Hancock's  Brigade,  consisting  of  the  Fifth  Wisconsin, 
Sixth  Maine,  Forty-Third  New  York,  and  Forty- 
Ninth  Pennsylvania  Regiments,  were  immediately 
under  arms,  as  indeed  they  had  been  all  day,  expecting 
to  join  in  the  contest  on  the  other  side.  They  ad 
vanced  over  a  piece  of  corduroy  road,  passed  the  re 
doubt  to  the  right,  and,  after  traversing  a  bottom  or 
declivity,  formed  in  line  of  battle  about  a  third  of  a 
mile  from  the  redoubt,  and  on  the  ascending  slope  of 
a  hill.  Here  they  threw  themselves  upon  their  bellies, 
so  that  they  could  just  peep  over  a  crest  by  rising  to 
their  knees,  and  waited  the  onslaught  of  the  enemy. 

The  pickets  skirmished  right  into  the  main  body, 
the  rebels  coming  pell-mell  after  them,  hoping  to  cap- 


130  VERMONT  IN  THE 

ture  the  whole  force,  when,  just  as  they  turned  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  Hancock's  Brigade  and  Brooks'  Fifth 
Vermont  Regiment  gave  them  a  staggering  fire.  At 
the  same  moment,  the  artillery  from  the  redoubt  and 
below  opened  upon  them,  and  they  fell,  right  and  left, 
in  heaps  and  files,  until  the  desperation  of  the  Georgi 
ans  changed  to  doubt,  and  then  to  panic.  As  they 
attempted  to  fall  back,  our  men  rose  to  their  feet, 
rushed  some  distance,  and  lay  down  again,  pouring  in, 
as  before,  murderous  volleys.  The  whole  fight  lasted 
half  an  hour,  and  ended  in  one  hundred  dead  Georgi 
ans  being  left  on  the  field.  Our  loss  was  exceedingly 
slight,  as  our  men  were  not  only  properly  generaled, 
but  the  regimental  officers  of  this  brigade  were  some 
of  the  most  effective  in  the  service. 


The  next  morning,  Saturday,  the  infuriated  Georgi 
ans,  who  had,  in  the  mean  time,  heard  of  their  success 
of  Friday  across  the  Chickahominy,  determined  to  at 
tack  our  lines  before  General  Smith's  division  a  second 
time,  and  make  another  effort  to  occupy  the  i*edoubt 
near  Golding's  house.  Their  dead  still  lay  in  the  bot 
tom  of  the  meadow  where  they  had  fallen  the  night 
before,  and  our  troops  had  stolen  around  in  the  night 
to  a  strip  of  wood  near  a  picket  station,  where  they 
dug  and  masked  a  rifle-pit. 


GREAT    REBELLION. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  Georgians  formed  in  line  of 
battle,  headed  by  Colonel  Lamar,  of  the  Seventh  Geor 
gia,  known  in  connection  with  the  celebrated  slave 
..case  of  the  yacht  Wanderer  —  the  first  regiment,  by 
repute,  to  enter  the  rebel  service.  They  did  not  seem 
dispirited  by  their  ill  success  of  the  day  before,  but 
inarched  boldly  up  to  the  same  inevitable  fate,  —  terri 
ble  volleys,  that  cut  them  to  pieces,  literally  butchering 
them,  —  and  their  enemy,  though  so  obvious  to  feel 
ing,  was  nowhere  plain  to  the  sight. 

BATTLE    OF    SAVAGE'S    STATION. 

Our  troops  fell  back  leisurely  to  Savage's  Station, 
and  there  awaited  the  enemy.  The  battle  took  place 
here  on  Sunday,  the  29th  of  June,  and  was  more  san 
guinary  than  that  of  the  day  before.  It  commenced 
about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  lasted  till  seven 
o'clock  at  night.  In  the  course  of  it,  some  of  the 
sharpest  infantry  fighting  of  the  war  took  place,  in 
which  parts  of  Sedgwick's,  Richardson's,  Hooker's, 
Smith's,  and  Kearney's  forces  engaged  with  various 
success*  The  rebels  came  determinedly  across  the  field, 
firing  as  they  advanced,  until  General  Sumner  ordered 
our  troops  up,  at  double-quick,  to  a  charge.  About 
four  thousand  of  them  went  off"  at  once,  with  a  roar 
that  might  have  drowned  the  musketry.  The  rebels 
kept  their  position  for  a  moment,  and  then  fell  back  to 


132  VERMONT   IN    THE 

the  rear  of  their  batteries.  Meagher's  Brigade,  how 
ever,  succeeded  in  charging  right  up  to  the  guns  of  a 
Virginia  battery,  two  of  which  they  had  hauled  off 
spiked,  and  chopped  the  carriages  to  pieces. 

The  Vermont  Brigade  had  the  advance  of  the  divis 
ion,  and  General  Brooks  at  once  threw  his  regiments 
to  the  front.  The  Fifth  and  Sixth  as  skirmishers,  sup 
ported  by  the  Third  and  Second  in  line  of  battle, 
the  Fourth  being  thrown  upon  the  flank,  the  brigade 
advanced  rapidly  through  a  wide  strip  of  woods.  As 
the  line  of  skirmishers  emerged  from  the  woods,  they 
suddenly  received  the  fire  of  a  battery  and  of  a  strong 
line  of  battle.  The  Fifth  at  once  charged  upon  the 
rebels  in  front,  who  scattered  in  great  confusion. 
They  were  beaten  back,  but  only  to  re-form  and  press 
forward  again  from  the  cover  of  the  woods  to  which 
they  had  retreated.  Three  rebel  regiments  advanced 
against  the  Vermont  Fifth  ;  but  they  had  a  good  posi 
tion,  and  held  it  in  spite  of  the  greatly  superior  force. 
The  contest  was  a  very  hot  one,  in  which  the  Fifth  lost 
about  two  hundred  of  her  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing.  Many  of  their  dead  were  left  upon  tl»e  field. 
The  other  Vermont  regiments  were  not  so  hotly  en 
gaged,  and  their  loss  was  comparatively  small.  The 
Confederate  loss  in  this  engagement  was  about  four 

thousand. 

The  weary  but  still  resolute  soldiers  received  orders 


GREAT    REBELLION.  133 

at  midnight  to  fall  back  rapidly  from  Savage's  Station 
across  White  Oak  Swamp.  The  enemy  was  making 
furtive  attempts  to  overreach  them  in  this  respect,  and 
it  was  likely  to  become  a  tight  race  between  the  rebels 
and  the  Unionists  as  to  which  should  first  cross  the 
creek  and  gain  the  high  grounds  on  the  other  side. 
If  they  should  be  more  speedy,  and  succeed  in  placing 
the  swamp  between  ourselves  and  them,  our  retreat 
would  be  almost  inevitably  cut  off,  and  almost  the 
whole  army  butchered  or  surrendered. 

BATTLE    OF    WHITE    OAK    SWAMP. 

Towards  morning  our  troops  crossed  White  Oak 
Creek  to  an  elevated  position,  where  they  remained 
undisturbed  by  the  enemy.  They  were  very  much 
exhausted  by  the  preceding  battles,  and  the  worn-out 
soldiers  made  the  most  of  their  opportunity  for  rest. 
It  did  not  continue  long,  however. 

Jackson  had  crossed  the  river,  and,  with  great  se 
crecy,  made  his  way  to  the  borders  of  White  Oak 
Creek,  where,  concealed  by  trees  and  underbrush,  he 
had  massed  his  batteries,  and  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  with  seventy-five  pieces  of  artillery,  opened 
a  terrible  fire  upon  our  troops,  taking  them  entirely  by 
surprise.  Several  of  Mott's  caissons  were  blown  up, 
and  his  pieces  dismounted,  and  general  confusion  was 
created. 


134  VERMONT    IN    THE 

Very  soon  our  light  batteries  recovered  from  the 
surprise,  and  vigorously  responded  to  the  enemy,  who 
was  soon  at  a  perceptible  disadvantage,  so  far  as  accu 
racy  and  effect  were  concerned.  Our  infantry,  too,  fell 
in  line  ready  to  support  the  batteries,  or  meet  half  way 
any  attempt  of  the  rebel  infantry  to  push  across  the 
creek.  Thus  the  battle  progressed  late  in  the  after 
noon,  with  serious  loss  on  both  sides  —  more  wounds 
from  cannon  shell,  perhaps,  resulting  than  at  any  other 
time  in  any  battle.  The  rebels  made  some  desperate 
efforts  to  cross  the  creek,  but  General  Smith  brought 
his  men  up  to  close  quarters  with  them  whenever  they 
dared  the  contest ;  and  although  in  each  case  some  of 
our  best  and  beloved  soldiers  bit  the  dust,  there  were 
no  signs  of  holding  off.  The  cannon  firing  was  inces 
sant  here,  some  of  the  deepest  and  closest  of  the  war, 
and  the  infantry  fire  extended  along  whole  columns. 

At  five  o'clock  they  engaged  the  enemy,  hidden  by 
woods  and  the  swelling  of  hills,  and  the  firing  from 
musketry  and  field  batteries  was  soon  intense.  The 
rebels  did  fatal  execution  among  us,  and  some  of  our 
most  valuable  officers  fell  here,  wounded  and  dying. 
The  reports  of  ordnance  had  now  been  heard  so  many 
days  that  chaos  seemed  the  normal  condition  of  nature, 
and  painfully  the  battle  went  on.  It  was  scarcely  an 
enthusiastic  fight,  for  all  the  romance  of  battle  had 
worn  off  by  reason  of  its  monotony.  The  men  fought 


GREAT    REBELLION.  135 

well,  however,  though  half  dead  with  heat,  thirst,  and 
weariness.  Some  broke  for  the  river,  and  plunged  into 
the  cool  water  for  an  instant,  then  emerging,  rushed 
back  to  the  fray,  and  fought  like  lions. 

Fresh  troops  and  superior  numbers  seemed  bearing 
the  tide  of  battle  against  us  at  five  o'clock,  and  the 
fate  of  the  army  hung  trembling  in  the  sunset,  when  a 
new  advocate  —  half  of  God,  half  of  man  —  came  to 
our  relief. 

The  gunboats  Galena,  Aroostook,  and  Jacob  Bell 
opened  from  Turkey  Island  Bend,  in  the  James  River, 
with  shot  and  shell  from  their  immense  rifle  guns. 
The  previous  roar  of  field  artillery  seemed  as  faint  as 
the  rattle  of  musketry  in  comparison  with  these  pieces 
of  ordnance,  that  literally  shook  the  water  and  strained 
the  air.  Thus  was  the  tide  of  battle  turned  in  our 
favor. 

At  this  stage  General  Heintzelman  ordered  a  charge 
by  his  corps.  The  gunboats  were  signaled  to  cease 
their  fire.  Rushing  steadily  ahead,  defying  all  efforts 
of  the  enemy  to  break  or  turn  its  line,  the  corps  had 
at  last  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  enemy  break  and 
fly  in  confusion  to  the  swamp,  totally  dispirited  and 
repulsed.  We  took  in  this  engagement  over  two  thou 
sand  prisoners. 

The  battle  at  White  Oak  Swamp  was  scarcely  sec 
ond  to  that  of  Games'  Hill  in  point  of  losses  of  life, 


136  VERMONT   IN    THE 

wounded,  and  prisoners.  We  suffered  less  than  the 
enemy,  who  was  literally  butchered,  but  our  own  loss 
was  very  large.  We  lost  all  of  Mott's  battery  but  a 
single  gun,  the  whole  of  Randall's  battery,  one  gun  of 
Captain  Ayres',  and  several  others  in  various  parts  of 
the  field.  Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners 
was  put  down  at  twenty-five  hundred. 

General  Brooks  was  seriously  wounded.  His  Ver 
mont  Brigade  behaved  like  veterans  in  the  several 
engagements  between  Games'  Hill  and  White  Oak 
Swamp.  The  same  indomitable  pluck  that  instigated 
the  charge  across  the  dam  at  Warwick  River,  marked 
their  course  in  the  fight  of  Golding's  "Farm,  Savage's, 
and  White  Oaks.  The  loss  of  this  brigade  was,  per 
haps,  less  than  that  of  any  of  the  brigades  of  Smith's 
division. 

The  battle  was  again  renewed  early  on  Tuesday 
morning  by  the  enemy,  who  evidently  expected  to 
crush  our  army.  It  lasted  about  three  hours,  resulting 
in  considerable  loss  to  both  parties.  The  enemy  then 
retired,  leaving  the  field  to  our  troops.  They  again 
advanced  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  in  con 
siderable  force,  but  retired  after  being  shelled  by  the 
gunboats  and  artillery  for  about  two  hours,  without 
coming  near  enough  for  the  use  of  musketry. 

The  loss  of  our  army  during  these  seven  days'  en 
gagement  is  not  positively  known,  but  could  not  be 


GREAT   REBELLION.  137 

less  than  twenty  thousand,  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  very  heavy,  far 
exceeding  our  own. 

The  loss  to  the  "Vermont  Brigade  "was  reported 
as  follows :  — 

Killed.       Wounded.       Missing.       Total. 

Second  Regiment,  0  43  39  .82 

Third  Regiment,  4  18  00  22 

Fourth  Regiment,  0  16  00  16 

Fifth  Regiment,  29  143  10  182 

Sixth  Regiment,  7  51  29  87 

Totals,   \     .      .     40          271  78         389 

On  the  Fourth  of  July,  General  McClellan  issued 
the  following  proclamation  to  his  troops :  — 

"  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac :  — 

"Your  achievements  of  the  past  ten  days  have  illus 
trated  the  valor  and  endurance  of  the  American  sol 
dier.  Attacked  by  superior  forces,  and  without  hopes 
of  reinforcements,  you  have  succeeded  in  changing 
your  base  of  operations  by  a  flank  movement,  al 
ways  regarded  as  the  most  hazardous  of  military 
operations.  You  have  saved  all  your  guns,  except  a 
few  lost  in  battle,  taking  in  return  guns  and  colors 
from  the  enemy. 

"  Upon  your  march  you  have  been  assailed,  day  after 
day,  with  desperate  fury,  by  men  of  the  same  race  and 
nation,  skilfully  massed  and  led.  Under  every  dis- 


138  VERMONT   IN    THE 

advantage  of  number,  and  necessarily  of  position,  also, 
you  have,  in  every  conflict,  beaten  back  your  foes  with 
enormous  slaughter. 

"Your  conduct  ranks  you  among  the  celebrated 
armies  of  history.  None  will  now  question  that  each 
of  you  may  always  with  pride  say,  'I  belong  to  the 
army  of  the  Potomac.'  You  have  reached  this  new 
base  complete  in  organization  and  unimpaired  in  spirit. 
The  enemy  may  at  any  time  attack  you ;  we  are  pre 
pared  to  meet  them.  I  have  personally  established 
your  lines.  Let  them  come,  and  we  will  convert  their 
repulse  into  a  final  defeat.  Your  government  is 
strengthening  you  with  the  resources  of  a  great  peo 
ple.  On  this,  our  nation's  birthday,  we  declare  to  our 
foes,  who  are  rebels  against  the  best  interests  of  man 
kind,  that  this  army  shall  enter  the  capital  of  the  so- 
called  Confederacy;  that  our  national  Constitution 
shall  prevail ;  and  that  the  Union,  which  can  alone 
insure  internal  peace  and  external  security  to  each 
State,  must  and  shall  be  preserved,  cost  what  it  may, 
in  time,  treasure,  and  blood." 

Two  days  before  issuing  this  proclamation,  General 
McClellan  had  given  an  order  for  the  army  to  retreat 
to  Harrison's  Landing,  six  miles  down  the  James 
River,  as  he  said  to  be  nearer  his  base  of  supplies. 
This  order  was  received  by  many  of  the  generals  of 


GEEAT    EEBELLION.  139 

his  array  with  amazement,  and  even  with  indignation. 
They  retreated  from  an  enemy  utterly  broken,  scat 
tered,  and  panic-stricken,  and  when  there  was  not  a 
foe  within  miles  of  them.  The  brave  Kearney  said, 
in  the  presence  of  many  officers,  — 

"  I,  Philip  Kearney,  an  old  soldier,  enter  my  solemn 
protest  against  this  order  for  retreat.  We  ought,  in 
stead  of  retreating,  to  follow  up  the  enemy  and  take 
Richmond  ;  and,  in  full  view  of  the  responsibility  of 
such  a  declaration,  I  say  to  you  all,  such  an  order  can 
only  be  prompted  by  cowardice  or  treason." 

The  army,  humiliated  by  disaster,  and  yet  ennobled 
by  heroism,  remained  inactive,  in  comfortable  encamp 
ment  on  the  river  banks,  during  the  months  of  July 
and  August.  In  the  mean  time  the  government  was 
anxiously  deliberating  respecting  future  movements. 
General  McClellan  plead  earnestly  for  reenforcements, 
that  he  might  again  march  upon  Richmond. 

BATTLE    OF    CEAMPTON's    GAP. 

The  next  engagement  in  which  the  Vermont  Bri 
gade  took  a  part  was  that  at  Crampton's  Gap,  Sep 
tember  14,  1862.  On  the  5th,  General  Lee  with  his 
army  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Maryland,  and  occupied 
Frederick  City.  General  McClellan  was  ordered  to 
push  forward  at  once  and  meet  him.  The  army  left 
camp  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  marched  through 


140  VERMONT    IN    THE 

Alexandria,  crossed  Long  Bridge  to  Washington, 
thence  through  Georgetown,  Rockville,  Johnstown, 
and  on  to  Jefferson,  having  driven  a  detachment  of 
rebels  through  Jefferson  Pass. 

The  advance  was  sounded  at  ten  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  and  at  three  in  the  afternoon  our 
troops  were  near  the  South  Mountain  range,  about  fifty 
miles  from  Harrison's  Landing.  The  rebels  had  fallen 
back,  taking  two  roads  which  crossed  the  South 
Mountain,  through  deep  gorges,  the  northern  called 
Turner's  Pass,  and  the  other,  six  miles  south  of  it, 
called  Crampton  Pass.  These  passes  the  rebels  had 
strongly  fortified,  and  arranged  their  batteries  on  the 
crests  of  adjacent  hills. 

General  Franklin  approached  the  Crampton  Pass, 
and  when  within  about  a  mile  and  a  half  of  it,  formed 
the  Sixth  Corps  in  line  of  battle,  while  the  other  troops 
were  to  proceed  to  the  South  Mountain  Pass,  and 
drive  the  rebels  through  it.  Between  Franklin's  Corps 
and  Crampton  Pass  .was  the  village  of  Burkettsville, 
beyond  was  the  South  Mountains,  their  summits 
crowned  with  rebel  batteries  and  infantry,  protected 
by  heavy  timber. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  an  attack  was  ordered  by 
General  Franklin's  Corps,  and  their  advance  was  the 
signal  for  the  rebels  to  open  fire  from  their  well  posted 
and  protected  batteries.  Our  troops,  however,  ad- 


GREAT   REBELLION. 


141 


vanced  steadily  in  the  face  of  a  storm  of  cannon  and 
musket  balls.  After  severe  fighting,  Slocum's  troops 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  pass,  while  the  Second  Divis 
ion  pressed  up  the  thickly  wooded  sides  of  the  moun 
tain,  charging  a  battery  at  the  left  of  the  Pass,  and 
capturing  two  of  its  guns.  The  Confederates  fled 
precipitately  down  the  west  side  of  the  mountain,  and 
our  troops  were  in  full  possession  of  the  ground, 
strewed  with  dead  rebels.  The  loss  on  our  side, 
though  large,  bore  no  comparison  with  that  of  the 
rebels.  The  rebels  made  their  way  into  Pleasant 
Valley,  leaving  on  our  hands  their  dead  and  wounded, 
three  stand  of  colors,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
great  many  prisoners. 

At  the  South  Mountain  Pass,  a  still  more  desperate 
battle  took  place.  With  their  advantage  in  position,  it 
seemed  almost  hopeless  to  attempt  a  battle  ;  but  Gen 
eral  Hooker  brought  his  Corps  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Ninth,  and  a  terrible  battle  ensued,  which  resulted  in 
a  complete  Union  victory,  and  the  possession  of  the 
ground  lately  occupied  by  the  rebels.  In  this  engage 
ment  General  Reno  was  killed  by  a  minie  ball,  which 
was  mourned  by  the  whole  army. 

While  these  battles  were  in  progress  another  took 
place  at  Harper's  Ferry,  which  resulted  in  the  surren 
der  of  that  place  to  the  enemy :  a  severe  blow  to  our 
cause,  by  which  we  lost  over  eleven  thousand  men, 


142  VERMONT   IN    THE 

and  a  vast  amount  of  munitions  of  war.  The  sur 
render  of  this  important  position  has  been  attributed 
to  the  cowardice  or  treachery,  or  both,  of  Colonel 
Miles,  a  regular  army  officer. 

BATTLE    OF    ANTIETAM. 

Immediately  following  the  foregoing,  occurred  the 
battle  of  Antietam,  which  took  place  on  the  seven 
teenth  of  September,  1862,  where  the  "Vermont  Bri 
gade"  also  performed  an  important  part.  The  follow 
ing  circumstantial  account  of  this  battle  is  given  by  a 
correspondent  of  the  Bennington  Banner:  — 

"As  we  passed  through  Burke  ttsville  we  were  cheered 
on  by  the  ladies  of  the  place,  who,  for  some  reason 
unknown  to  me,  had  not  been  removed  from  the  town 
before  the  battle  commenced.  We  passed  through  the 
entire  length  of  the  village,  the  shot  and  shell  from 
the  enemy  flying  like  Satan's  angels  over  our  heads. 
Skirmishers  were  thrown  out  as  we  neared  the  enemy's 
line,  and  hardly  had  they  been  deployed  before  they 
were  engaged.  By  this  time  the  bullets  began  to 
whistle  around  our  heads  in  rather  too  close  proximity 
to  be  safe.  In  consequence,  General  Brooks  ordered 
us  to  take  up  our  position  behind  a  large  barn  which 
stood  near  us,  not  wishing  needlessly  to  expose  his 
men.  As  we  entered  the  yard,  one  of  our  men  was 
shot  through  the  neck,  and  fell  dead  without  a  groan. 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  143 

A  few  moments  after,  a  gallant  charge  was  made  by  a 
brigade  of  Slocum's  division  on  our  right,  they  driving 
the  enemy  before  them  like  sheep.  It  was  a  noble 
sight.  The  time  had  now  come ;  it  became  necessary 
for  us  to  '  go  in ; '  we  filed  from  behind  the  barn,  pass 
ing  to  the  left  into  a  smooth  meadow,  halted  and  came 
to  front  as  coolly  as  if  on  drill.  Next  came  the  order 
to  charge,  and  forward  we  went,  at  a  double-quick, 
our  lieutenant  colonel  —  who  is  in  command  of  the 
regiment  —  leading  us  a  yard  or  two  in  front  of  the 
colors,  which  were  flung  out  to  the  breeze,  showing 
that  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  once  more  moving  on 
ward  proudly  to  victory.  The  position  which  we  were 
ordered  to  charge  upon  was  one  of  great  strength,  and 
if  the  enemy  had  held  it  with  half  the  courage  with 
which  it  was  stormed,  we  should  all  have  went  under 
before  we  could  have  taken  it;  but  as  we  gave  our 
battle-cry  they  fled  in  every  direction,  hardly  waiting 
to  fire  a  shot.  We  halted  a  moment  as  we  came  to 
the  stone  wall  bounding  the  field  across  which  we  had 
charged ;  but  not  long  after,  the  order  came  to  move 
on,  and  onward  we  moved,  over  the  wall,  through  the 
woods,  up  the  mountain  sides,  sweeping  with  irresistible 
fury  every  thing  before  us.  The  top  of  the  mountain 
was  gained,  and  every  man  was  thankful  that  he  was 
alive,  and  realizing  that  it  was  indeed  a  miracle  that 
one  of  us  was  left  to  tell  the  tale.  We  halted  a  mo- 


144  VERMONT   IN    THE 

raent  to  take  breath,  and  then  started  along  the  ridge 
of  the  mountain,  determined  to  take  a  battery  -which 
had  been  throwing  all  kinds  of  deadly  missiles  at  us 
during  our  charge.  Our  progress  was  necessarily  very 
slow,  being  through  tangled  brush  and  over  rocks, 
equal  to  any  found  on  the  Green  Mountains.  Onward 
we  went,  however,  deterred  by  nothing  that  obstructed 
our  route  ;  yet  the  rebels  got  the  start  of  us,  and  had 
their  battery  removed  before  we  reached  the  spot 
where  it  was  posted. 

"  In  our  charge  we  captured  the  battle-flag  of  the 
ninteenth  Virginia,  one  major,  three  lieutenants,  and 
sixty  prisoners.  I  am  unable  to  give  you  a  list  of  them, 
owing  to  the  hurry  in  which  they  were  sent  to  the 
rear,  their  names  not  being  taken  at  brigade  head 
quarters.  The  major  and  lieutenants  were  from  the 
sixteenth  Virginia,  as  were  also  the  greater  part  of  the 
prisoners.  The  major  states  that  we  utterly  annihi 
lated  the  sixteenth,  and  that  now  it  is  classed  among 
the  things  that  were.  The  Vermont  Brigade  also  cap 
tured  twenty-eight  other  prisoners  from  the  fifteenth 
North  Carolina,  twenty-fourth  Georgia,  seventh  Vir 
ginia  cavalry,  sixth  Virginia  infantry,  tenth  Georgia, 
Cobb's  first  Georgia  Legion,  and  a  lieutenant  from  the 
Troop  artillery. 

"This  was  one  of  the  most  hardly-contested  and 
terrific  battles  of  the  entire  war.  Half  the  officers  of 


GREAT   REBELLION.  145 

the  thirty-fourth  New  York  were  disabled,  their  colors 
were  shot  to  pieces,  every  one  of  their  color-guard 
wounded,  and  but  a  handful  of  men  left.  Only  thirty- 
four  of  the  whole  regiment  could  be  brought  together 
after  the  fight.  The  fifteenth  Massachusetts  went  into 
the  battle  with  seventeen  officers  and  six  hundred 
men.  They  came  out  with  nine  officers  and  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty-four  men.  All  the  efforts  of  Howard 
and  Sumner  were  unavailing  to  reorganize  the  troops, 
or  to  check  the  impetuous  advance  of  the  foe.  Our 
troops  were  withdrawn  to  the  rear,  and  again  the 
trampled  cornfield,  strewn  with  our  dead  and  dying, 
was  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels.  Their  farther  advance 
was,  however,  checked  by  the  well-directed  fire  of  our 
artillery. 

"  It  was  one  o'clock.  The  prospect  looked  gloomy. 
Hooker  was  carried  from  the  field  wounded ;  his  Corps 
greatly  exhausted  ;  the  ammunition  of  several  of  the 
batteries  was  expended,  and  they  had  been  compelled 
to  retire.  All  that  had  been  gained  had  been  lost. 
We  could  now  only  hope  to  hold  our  own.  Advance 
was  impossible.  At  this  crisis  Franklin  appeared  with 
fresh  troops,  and  formed  sublimely  on  the  left.  Gen 
eral  Smith,  with  his  Maine  and  Vermont  troops,  was 
ordered  to  retake  the  cornfield.  Magnificently  it  was 
done.  His  troops,  on  the  double-quick,  swept  the  field 
like  a  cloud-shadow,  penetrated  the  forest,  and  in  ten 


146  VERMONT   IN   THE 

minutes  had  gained  them  both.  So  sudden  are  the 
changes  in  the  kaleidoscope  of  battle!  Now  for  a 
couple  of  hours  there  was  a  slight  lull  in  this  tempest 
of  death,  though  the  thunders  of  artillery  were  inces 
santly  echoing  over  the  hills. 

"  The  battle  continued  until  night,  when  it  ceased, 
and  it  was  supposed  would  be  resumed  next  morning. 
Toward  morning  it  was  known  that  the  rebels  were 
moving  back.  Next  day  the  rebels  buried  their  dead 
under  a  truce,  during  which  they  were  making  prepa 
rations  for  their  escape.  On  the  night  of  the  18th  the 
whole  rebel  army  disappeared.  Thus  ended  one  of 
the  most  sanguinary  and  bloody  battles  of  the  war." 

BATTLE    OF    FREDERICKSBURG. 

The  battle  of  Fredericksburg  occurred  on  the  13th 
of  December,  1862.  Between  the  time  of  the  battle 
of  Antietam  and  that  of  Fredericksburg,  General 
McClellan  was  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  was  succeeded  by  Major  General 
A.  E.  Burnside.  General  Brooks,  who  had  commanded 
the  "Vermont  Brigade"  through  many  hard-fought 
battles,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Sixth 
Division,  to  succeed  General  Slocum,  who  took  com 
mand  of  the  Twelfth  Corps.  General  Brooks,  though 
of  abrupt  and  stern  manners,  was  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  energetic  brigade  commanders  in  the  army, 


GREAT   REBELLION.  147 

and  had  greatly  endeared  himself  to  his  brigade.  On 
surrendering  the  command,  he  was  presented  by  the 
officers  of  the  ^Vermont  Brigade  "  with  a  magnificent 
silver  service.  It  is  said  that,  forgetting  his  rough 
manners,  he  received  the  beautiful  gift  of  his  loved 
brigade  with  tears  standing  on  his  brown  cheeks.  He 
was  succeeded  in  the  command  of  the  brigade  by  Col 
onel  Henry  Whiting,  of  the  Second  Vermont  Regi 
ment. 

The  army  remained  comparatively  inactive  from  the 
last  of  September  until  November,  when  it  moved 
to  the  Rappahannock,  opposite  Fredericksburg,  for 
merly  the  most  important  town  in  Spottsylvania 
County,  Virginia.  It  is  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock  River,  at  the  head  of  tide-water,  about 
sixty  miles  north  of  Richmond,  and  in  connection  with 
it  both  by  railroad  and  turnpike  road.  It  had  been  a 
very  prosperous  town;  but  some  years  before  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  the  tide  of  its  success 
had  been  receding,  so  that  in  1861  it  had  a  population 
of  only  about  four  thousand. 

General- Burnside's  plan  was  to  cross  the  Rappahan 
nock  by  forced  marches,  and  so  on  to  Richmond  before 
General  Lee  could  concentrate  his  army  so  as  success 
fully  to  oppose  him.  On  arrival  at  Falmouth  it  was 
found  that  the  pontoon  bridges,  which  were  to  have 
been  sent  from  Washington,  had  not  arrived.  The 


148  VERMONT   IN   THE 

delay  in  their  arrival,  and  the  time  required  to  put 
them  across  the  river,  annoyed  as  our  men  were,  day 
and  night,  by  the  fire  of  the  enemy  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  gave  ample  time  to  bring  the  rebel 
army  together  at  Fredericksburg,  and  strongly  to  for 
tify  themselves  for  a  defense,  and  to  dispute  the  cross 
ing  of  our  troops  at  any  point  for  twenty  miles  up  and 
down  the  river.  The  rebel  army  was  so  distributed 
that  General  Burnside  believed  that  by  throwing  his 
whole  army  across  the  river  at  one  point  he  could 
break  through  the  extended  line  of  the  enemy  before  a 
sufficient  force  could  be  concentrated  to  successfully 
oppose  his  movements.  After  throwing  his  forces 
across  the  river,  one  of  the  severest  battles  of  the  war 
took  place,  resulting  in  no  victory  to  either  army, 
though  the  loss  on  our  side  was  much  the  greatest  in 
killed  and  wounded,  the  enemy  having  greatly  the 
advantage  in  position.  Our  army  returned  across  the 
river  during  the  night  of  the  -  13th,  in  good  order, 
without  the  loss  of  a  man  or  a  gun. 

In  this  battle  the  "  Vermont  Brigade,"  under  com 
mand,  of  Colonel  Henry  Whiting,  behaved  well,  as 
usual,  and  was  distinguished  for  its  bravery  and  cool 
ness  throughout  the  fight.  The  casualties  in  the  bri 
gade  were  as  follows :  — 

Second  Regiment,  killed,  2;  wounded,  59.  Third 
Regiment,  killed,  2  ;  wounded,  8.  Fourth  Regiment, 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  149 

killed,  11 ;  wounded  43 ;  missing,  2.  Fifth  Regiment, 
killed,  10;  wounded,  30.  Sixth  Regiment,  killed  1; 
wounded,  1.  Totals,  Tkilled,  26  ;  wounded,  141 ;  miss.- 
ing,  2. 

General  Burnside,  m  his  preliminary  report  of  this 
engagement  to  President  Lincoln,  said,  "  For  the  fail 
ure  of  the  attack,  I  am  responsible,  as  the  extreme 
gallantry,  courage,  and  endurance  showed  by  them  (the 
patriotic  soldiers)  was  never  excelled,  and  would  have 
carried  the  point  had  it  been  possible.  But  for  the 
fog,  and  the  unexpected  and  unavoidable  delay  in  build 
ing  the  bridges,  which  gave  the  enemy  twenty-four 
hours  more  to  concentrate  his  forces  in  his  strong 
positions,  we  should  almost  certainly  have  succeeded." 

SECOND   BATTLE    OF   FKEDERICKSBUKG. 

The  second  battle  of  Fredericksburg  occurred  on 
the  3d  and  4th  of  May,  1863.  Colonel  Whiting  hav 
ing  resigned,  the  "  Vermont  Brigade  "  was  commanded 
by  Colonel  L.  A.  Grant,  of  the  Fifth  Regiment.  Ad 
jutant  General  Washburn,  in  his  apnual  report  to  the 
Legislature  in  1863,  says,  "  The  coolness  and  bravery 
with  which  the  brigade  fought  at  the  second  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  on  the  3d  of  May,  and  at  Banks' 
Ford  on  the  4th  of  May,  have  never  been  excelled  by 
any  troops.  They  stormed  and  carried  the  heights  of 
Fredericksburg  on  the  3d  of  May,  in  the  face  of  a 


150  VERMONT   IN    THE 

terrific  fire  ;  and  when,  on  the  4th,  they  protected  the 
rear  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  enabled  it  to  cross  the 
Rappahannock  in  safety,  the  masses  of  the  enemy, 
greatly  outnumbering  them,  was  persistently  hurled 
against  them  in  vain.  They  were  attacked  by,  and 
repulsed  three  rebel  brigades,  of  four  regiments  each, 
and  saved  the  Sixth  Corps.  The  following  is  Colonel 
Grant's  report,  dated  May  4,  1863  :  — 

"Peter  T.  Washburn,  Adjutant  and  Inspector  Gen 
eral  : 

"  SIK  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  most  brilliant 
conduct  of  the  Vermont  troops  at  the  storming  of  the 
heights  of  Fredericksburg  yesterday.  The  Second 
Vermont  was  the  first  regiment  in  the  principal  works 
on  the  highest  range  of  hills,  and  the  Sixth  Vermont 
was  the  second  regiment  in  the  works  on  the  lower 
range  of  hills  commanding  Fredericksburg. 

"  The  heights  were  carried  by  storm,  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  under  a  terrific  fire  from  the  enemy.  The 
Second  Vermont  led  the  charge,  and  covered  itself 
with  .glory.  It  could  not  have  been  done  better. 

"  Colonel  Walbridge  and  Major  Tyler  are  deserving 
of  special  praise  for  the  great  coolness  and  gallantry 
displayed  on  the  occasion. 

"  The  Sixth  Regiment,  Colonel  Barney,  did  splen 
didly.  The  Third  Regiment,  Colonel  Seaver,  the 


GEEAT    REBELLION.  151 

Fourth  Regiment,  Colonel  Stoughton,  and  the  Fifth 
Regiment,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lewis,  constituted  a 
reserve  force,  and  came  to  the  support  of  the  ad 
vance  in  splendid  style. 

"  Three  pieces  of  artillery  and  many  prisoners  were 
taken.  Further  particulars  shall  be  given.  The 
Second  lost  12  killed  and  94  wounded ;  the  Third  lost 
1  killed  and  6  wounded ;  the  Fourth  lost  1  wounded ; 
the  Fifth  none;  the  Sixth  lost  8  wounded.  Total, 
122." 

The  following  is  a  portion  of  Colonel  Grant's  report 
in  regard  to  the  second  day's  engagement :  — 

'-'-Peter  T.  Waskburn,  Adjutant  and  Inspector  Gen 
eral  : 

"  SIR  :  The  First  Vermont  Brigade  has  again  met  the 
enemy,  and  done  honor  to  the  State. 

"  After  the  storming  of  the  heights  of  Fredericks- 
burg,  on  the  3d  instant,  we  were  ordered  forward 
upon  the  plank  road  to  join  the  main  army.  About 
three  miles  from  Fredericksburg  the  advance  met,  and 
became  hotly  engaged  with  reinforcements  marching 
to  the  support  of  the  force  just  driven  from  the 
heights. 

"  The  Vermont  Brigade  arrived  in  the  midst  of  the 
battle,  and  was  immediately  ordered  to  take  position 


152  VERMONT   IN    THE 

on  the  left,  to  repel  any  flank  attack  in  that  direction. 
With  skirmishers  well  in  front,  four  regiments  of  the 
brigade  were  deployed  in  line,  the  Second  Vermont 
being  held  in  reserve.  In  that  position  we  remained 
during  the  night. 

"  In  the  morning  it  was  found  that  other  reenforce- 
ments  had  come  up  from  the  left,  taken  possession  of 
the  heights,  and  passed  to  our  rear,  completely  cutting 
us  off  from  Fredericksburg.  We  immediately  changed 
direction  to  the  rear,  facing  toward  Fredericksburg. 

"  The  disposition  of  troops  at  this  time  was  as  foU 
lows :  There  was  one  brigade  in  our  front,  a  large 
portion  of  which  was  deployed  upon  the  skirmish  line, 
which  occupied  a  crest  overlooking  a  ravine  between 
us  and  the  rebel  forces.  Just  in  the  rear  of  the  bri 
gade  thus  deployed  was  another  small  ravine,  in  which 
was  a  thin  skirt  of  woods.  Just  in  the  rear  of  this 
ravine,  behind  a  crest  or  slight  swell  of  ground,  the 
Vermont  Brigade  took  its  position,  and  constituted  a 
second  and  strong  line  of  defense.  The  Fifth  Ver 
mont,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lewis,  was  posted  on  the 
extreme  right,  and  considerably  in  front,  to  support  a 
section  of  artillery.  That  position  being  to  the  right 
of  the  brigade  in  our  front,  two  companies  were 
thrown  out  as  skirmishers.  The  Third  Vermont, 
Colonel  Seaver,  was  on  the  right  of  the  main  line, 
and  the  Sixth  Vermont,  Colonel  Barney,  was  on  the 


GEE  AT    EEBELLION.  153 

left  of  the  Third.  Between  the  Third  and  the  Sixth 
was  a  battery.  The  Second  Vermont,  Colonel  Wai- 
bridge,  occupied  the  left  of  the  Sixth,  and  the  Twenty- 
sixth  New  Jersey,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Martindale,  was 
on  the  left  of  the  Second.  The  Fourth  Vermont, 
Colonel  Stoughton,  was  posted  on  the  extreme  left, 
and  considerably  to  the  front,  in  the  edge  of  the  thick 
pine  woods,  in  position  commanding  a  ravine  and  open 
space  in  front.  In  this  position  we  awaited  the  attack. 

"The  attack  commenced  a  few  minutes  past  five, 
P.  M.,  upon  General  Brooks'  skirmishers  at  our  right. 
This  proved  a  feint,  as  the  main  attack  was  soon  made 
in  strong  force  directly  upon  our  front.  Long  lines  of 
rebel  infantry,  one  after  another,  charged  down  the 
slope  into  the  ravine  in  front  of  our  pickets.  One 
rebel  battery  after  another  unmasked  and  opened  fire. 
The  left  of  the  main  attack  bore  directly  down  toward 
the  Fifth  Vermont,  and  its  skirmishers  retired,  fight 
ing  inch  by  inch. 

"  The  pickets  or  skirmishers  of  the  other  brigade 
were  driven  in.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  enemy's 
lines  had  gained  the  crest  from  which  the  pickets  had 
been  driven,  they  bore  to  the  left  to  gain  the  woods, 
and  to  separate  us  from  the  river.  The  section  of 
artillery,  near  the  Fifth  Vermont,  retired,  having  ex 
hausted  their  ammunition. 

"  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lewis  immediately  threw  for- 


154  VEBMONT   IN   THE 

ward  the  right  of  his  regiment  upon  the  crest,  and 
poured  into  the  advancing  lines  a  terrible  cross  and 
enfilading  fire,  causing  great  havoc  in  their  ranks. 
Still  they  went  on,  yelling  like  demons.  The  Fifth 
Vermont  continued  its  fire,  with  great  rapidity,  upon 
their  flank  and  rear,  until  another  column,  further  to 
the  right,  came  bearing  down  to  the  rear  of  the  Fifth, 
threatening  to  cut  it  off.  Seeing  this,  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Lewis,  agreeably  to  previous  instructions,  drew 
off  his  regiment  by  the  flank,  passing  round,  through  a 
depression,  to  the  right  of  the  Third  Vermont. 

"  While  this  was  being  done,  and  the  lines  in  our 
front  were  giving  away,  the  Twenty-Sixth  New  Jersey 
was  ordered  to  the  front  and  right,  and  the  Second 
Vermont  was  moved  to  the  left,  so  as  to  occupy  the 
place  left  by  the  Twenty-Sixth.  The  Third  Vermont 
was  also  moved  up  to  take  the  former  position  of  the 
Second,  thus  leaving  the  Sixth  Vermont  and  the  bat 
tery  on  the  right.  The  Twenty-Sixth  broke  and  gave 
way,  and  the  enemy  gained  the  woods  in  front  of  the 
Second,  and  were  advancing  directly  upon  them,  when 
the  Second  rose,  and  poured  upon  them  a  well- 
directed  fire,  and  continued  it  with  such  rapidity  as 
to  resemble  volley  immediately  upon  volley.  The 
Twenty-Sixth  passed  away  from  the  front,  so  that  the 
Third  opened,  and,  with  the  Second,  poured  its  leaden 
hail  full  upon  the  already  confused  masses  of  the  ad- 


i 


GREAT    REBELLION.  155 

vancing  hosts.  The  enemy  were  here  checked,  broken, 
and  held  at  buy.  Still  further  to  the  left,  as  the  enemy 
advanced,  the  Fourth  Vermont  became  engaged.  As 
the  enemy  advanced  obliquely,  the  Fourth  would  have 
been  exposed  to  a  cross  fire,  but  Colonel  Stoughton, 
with  great  coolness,  threw  back  his  right  wing,  pre 
senting  a  bold  front,  and  poured  into  them  a  terrible 
fire.  Still  on  they  went,  gaining  the  ravine  in  front  of 
the  Fourth ;  and  at  the  same  time  a  force  further  to  the 
left  came  up,  driving  in  our  front  lines,  threatening  to 
cut  us  off  from  the  river. 

"  Colonel  Stoughton  now  changed  front  forward  to 
his  original  position,  and  poured  in  fresh  volleys,  hold 
ing  the  enemy's  lines  in  check.  In  the  meantime  the 
Fifth  Vermont  had  arrived  from  the  right,  and  been 
posted  behind  a  crest,  to  support  the  Second. 

"Seeing  that  Colonels  Walbridge  and  Seaver  were 
able  to  hold  their  front,  and  that  the  enemy  were 
pressing  to  turn  our  left,  I  ordered  the  Fifth  further 
to  the  left,  and  to  a  position  completely  commanding 
the  ravine,  should  the  enemy  succeed  in  flanking  the 
Fourth.  At  this  time  the  roar  of  battle  was  terrible. 
The  roar  of  cannon  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  sur 
passed  all  description.  The  enemy  had  three  times  our 
number  in  front ;  but  the  Vermont  regiments  stood 
firm  and  unbroken,  hugging  closely  to  the  crest,  and 
literally  presenting  a  wall  of  fire.  Baffled  in  their 


156  VEKMONT    IN    THE 

efforts  to  break  through  our  lines,  and  perceiving  that 
the  battery  on  our  right  had  left  its  position,  the  ene 
my  rallied,  and  made  an  attempt  to  turn  our  right ; 
but  the  Sixth  Vermont  were  there. 

"  The  rebels,  not  knowing  what  awaited  them, 
rushed  desperately  forward,  and  nearly  gained  the 
crest,  when  the  Sixth  rose,  and  poured  a  terrible  volley 
into  their  quivering  ranks,  and  then  immediately 
charged  upon  them,  down  the  slope,  through  the  ra 
vine,  on  to  the  crest  in  front,  from  which  our  front  line 
had  been  driven.  In  the  meantime  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Martindale  had  rallied  the  Twenty-Sixth,  and 
charged  down  with  the  Sixth. 

"  The  enemy  were  utterly  routed.  They  gave  way 
in  great  confusion,  and  many  of  them  were  taken 
prisoners.  The  ground  in  front  of  the  Second,  Third, 
and  Sixth  was  literally  covered  with  the  rebel  dead 
and  wounded.  So  far .  as  this  point  was  concerned, 
a  complete  victory  was  gained ;  but  on  the  left  the 
enemy  was  still  pressing  to  cut  us  off  from  the  river. 

"I  ordered  the  Second,  Third,  and  Sixth  Vermont, 
and  the  Twenty-sixth  New  Jersey  from  the  positions 
they  held,  and  the  ground  they  had  so  nobly  won,  to 
form  a  new  line  to  the  left,  and  nearer  the  river.  Not 
knowing  what  danger  was  on  the  left,  and  being  con 
scious  of  having  gained  a  splendid  victory,  the  colonels 
commanding  these  regiments  at  first  questioned  the 


GREAT    REBELLION.  157 

authenticity  of  the  order ;  but  being  informed  that  the 
order  was  imperative,  they  quickly  changed  position  as 
directed.  At  this  point  of  time  the  enemy  was  mak 
ing  a  desperate  attempt  to  force  our  left.  He  had 
gained  the  woods  to  the  left  of  the  Fourth  and  Fifth, 
and  fearing  for  the  safety  of  the  Fourth,  which  was 
now  almost  unsupported,  I  withdrew  that  regiment, 
and  it  was  placed  in  support  of  Butler's  Battery,  from 
Newton's  Division,  whose  timely  arrival  and  deadly 
fire  assisted  in  checking  the  enemy's  advance  at  that 
point.  Darkness  now  came  on,  and  the  battle  ceased, 
the  enemy  having  been  completely  foiled  in  his  attempt 
by  the  remarkable  coolness  and  brilliant  conduct  of  the 
Vermont  troops. 

"  Not  knowing  the  strength  of  the  force  between 
our  left  and  the  river,  I  formed  a  new  line  in  a  strong 
position,  prepared  to  repel  any  attack.  The  regiments 
in  this  new  line  were  formed  from  left  to  right,  in  the 
following  order,  to  wit,  the  Fifth,  Sixth,  Twenty-sixth, 
Third,  Second,  and  Fourth.  The  Fifth  was  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  its  left  resting  on  the  river.  In  this 
position  the  brigade  held  the  front,  while  the  balance 
of  the  corps  fell  back  to  Banks'  Ford,  where  bridges 
had  been  constructed  to  cross  the  river.  The  brigade 
then  slowly  retired,  its  skirmishers  following  in  the 
rear.  Upon  arriving  near  the  Ford,  the  brigade  formed 
a  new  line  of  battle,  and  sent  skirmishers  far  to  the 
front  (which  had  now  become  our  rear). 


158  VERMONT   IN   THE 

"  The  skirmish  line  being  attacked,  the  Second, 
Third,  and  Sixth  Vermont  regiments  were  sent  out  to 
support  the  skirmish  line.  The  balance  of  the  corps 
crossed  the  river,  then  these  regiments  and  the  skir 
mish  line  followed.  To  Colonel  T.  O.  Seaver,  Third 
Vermont,  acting  as  general  officer  of  the  day,  is  due 
the  credit  of  bringing  off  these  three  regiments.  To 
Major  C.  P.  Dudley,  Fifth  Vermont,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Colonel  Seaver,  is  due  the  credit  of  safely 
bringing  off  the  skirmish  line,  the  last  squads  crossing 
the  river  in  boats,  after  the  bridges  were  partially  re 
moved. 

"  So  far  as  space  will  admit,  this  is  a  faithful  account 
of  the  part  taken  by  the  Vermont  troops  in  the  battle 
of  Banks'  Ford.  It  was  a  terrible  struggle.  If  we 
believe  what  intelligent  prisoners  informed  us,  the 
rebel  General  Lee  was  present,  directing  the  attack. 
He  skillfully  massed  and  hurled  against  us  a  terrible 
force,  fully  expecting  to  annihilate  or  capture  the  whole 
corps.  No  less  than  three  corps  of  the  rebel  army 
were  engaged,  and  no  less  than  three  brigades  fought 
the  'Green  Mountain  Boys,'  to  wit,  a  Louisiana,  a 
North  Carolina,  and  a  Mississippi  brigade,  each  con 
sisting  of  four  regiments. 

"The  Louisiana  and  North  Carolina  brigades  must 
have  been  nearly  annihilated.  The  colonel  command 
ing  the  Louisiana  brigade,  whom  we  captured,  ad- 


GEE  AT    REBELLION.  159 

mitted  that  we  had  taken,  and  killed  and  wounded,  the 
most  of  his  brigade.  The  number  of  prisoners  actually 
captured  must  have  been  over  one  thousand,  but  owing 
to  the  imperative  order  withdrawing  the  Second,  Third, 
and  Sixth  Vermont,  and  Twenty-sixth  New  Jersey, 
only  about  four  hundred  were  brought  away,  among 
whom  were  one  brigadier-general,  one  colonel,  com 
manding  brigade,  several  lieutenant  colonels,  majors, 
and  line  officers. 

"  Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  the  officers 
and  men  for  their  excellent  conduct.  They  could  not 
have  done  better.  Vermont  may  well  be  proud  of 
them  all.  The  men  did  their  duty,  and  the  officers 
were  there  to  direct  and  encourage.  Not  an  officer 
failed  to  come  to  time.  Not  a  man  straggled  from  the 
ranks.  And  when  a  regiment  moved,  it  did  it  with 
almost  the  precision  of  an  ordinary  drill.  It  would  be 
impossible,  and  almost  invidious,  to  particularize,  but  I 
cannot  fail  to  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  praise  of 
Colonel  Walbridge,  Second  Vermont,  Colonel  Seaver, 
Third  Vermont,  Colonel  Stoughton,  Fourth  Vermont, 
Colonel  Barney,  Sixth,  and  Lieut.  Colonel  Lewis,  of 
the  Fifth  Vermont.  Nor  can  I  fail  to  mention  in  the 
same  strain,  of  gallant  services  performed  by  the  officers 
of  my  staff,  Captain  A.  Brown,  Fourth  Vermont  Vol 
unteers,  Acting  Assistant  Inspector  General ;  Lieuten 
ant  C.  H.  Forbes,  Fifth  Vermont  Volunteers,  Acting 


160  VERMONT   IN    THE 

Assistant  Adjutant  General;  Lieutenant  J.  J.  Bain, 
Second  Vermont,  and  F.  J.  Butterfield,  Sixth  Vermont, 
Acting  Aids-de-Camp,  and  Lieutenant  Horace  French, 
Third  Vermont,  Acting  Provost  Marshal,  all  of  whom 
rendered  the  most  efficient  aid.  They  were  every 
where  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  wherever  needed, 
faithfully  delivering  and  carrying  out  my  orders.  This 
was  also  true  of  them  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 

"  Lieutenant  A.  Austin,  Fifth  Vermont  Volunteers, 
Acting  Quartermaster  of  the  Brigade,  is  also  entitled 
to  great  credit  for  supplying  the  command  with  rations 
and  other  necessaries,  and  for  safely  keeping  charge  of 
the  baggage  of  the  brigade. 

"  Nor  ought  I  to  fail  to  speak  of  the  gallant  dead. 
Captain  Ainsworth,  of  the  Sixth  Vermont,  fell  while 
gallantly  leading  on  his  men. 

"  The  loss  to  the  Vermont  troops  was,  considering 
all  the  circumstances,  very  slight  indeed.  There  were 
17  killed,  118  wounded,  and  44  missing,  in  all  179. 
The  loss  inflicted  upon  the  enemy  was  probably  five 
times  that  number.  Let  not  the  mothers,  wives,  and 
sisters  of  Vermont  weep  for  the  fallen.  Their  graves 
are  on  the  fields  of  battle,  while  their  spirits  find  '  con 
genial  joys  in  the  fields  of  the  blessed.'" 

The  "Vermont  Brigade"  was  again  engaged  at 
Fredericksburg  on  the  5th  of  June,  1863.  The  fol- 


GEN.    LEWIS    A.    GRANT. 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  161 

lowing  is  Colonel  L.  A.  Grant's   report  to  Adjutant 
General  P.  T.  Washbum,  dated  the  6th :  — • 

"  SIR  :  The  Vermont  Brigade  has  again  crossed  the 
Rappahannock  at  the  old  point,  about  one  and  a  half 
miles  below  Fredericksburg.  It  is  the  first  brigade 
across,  and  so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends,  it  is  the 
only  one  yet  over. 

"We  left  camp  yesterday,  soon  after  noon,  and 
marched  to  the  river,  a  distance  of  about  five  miles. 
The  pontoons  were  on  the  ground,  ready  to  be  taken 
down  the  bank  and  thrown  across  the  river.  The 
rebels  had  constructed  rifle-pits  in  front  ofj  and  com 
manding  the  point  where  the  bridges  were  to  be 
placed.  These  rifle-pits  were  occupied  by  rebel  in 
fantry.  As  soon  as  the  artillery  could  be  got  into  posi 
tion,  it  opened  a  terrible  fire  upon  the  rifle-pits.  It 
had  but  little  effect,  however,  except  to  keep  back  re- 
enforcements  that  were  coming  to  the  assistance  of 
those  already  in  the  rifle-pits.  But  very  few  of  those 
in  the  rifle-pits  were  injured  by  the  artillery  fire.  They 
managed  to  keep  up  a  galling  musketry  fire  upon  the 
engineers  that  attempted  to  construct  the  bridges.  It 
was  determined  to  drive  the  rebels  from  the  rifle-pits, 
The  Fifth  Vermont,  Lieut.  Colonel  Lewis,  and  Twenty 
sixth  New  Jersey,  Lieut.  Colonel  Martindale,  were 
ordered  forward  for  that  purpose.  They  rushed  gal- 


162 


VERMONT   IN   THE 


lantly  down  the  bank,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
engineers,  and  under  a  galling  fire  from  the  rifle-pits, 
they  launched  the  pontoon  boats  into  the  stream, 
jumped  into  them,  and  rowed  across  and  landed 
upon  the  south  bank. 

."But  a  few  companies  of  the  Fifth  had  crossed, 
when  they  sprang  upon  the  bank,  and  with  shouts 
charged  the  rifle-pits,  driving  the  enemy  from  them  in 
great  confusion,  taking  many  of  them  prisoners.  The 
Twenty-sixth  New  Jersey  came  gallantly  to  the  sup 
port  of  the  Fifth,  and  did  well,  but  it  is  believed  that 
the  Fifth  cleared  the  rifle-pits.  The  Third  Vermont, 
Colonel  Seaver,  the  Fourth  Vermont,  Colonel  Stough- 
ton,  and  the  Second  Vermont,  Colonel  Walbridge,  also 
crossed  in  boats,  a'nd  gallantly  supported  the  regiments 
already  across. 

"  The  rebels  were  driven  across  the  plain  into  the 
woods.  One  bridge  was  soon  completed,  and  the 
Sixth  Vermont,  Colonel  Barney,  also  crossed.  Our 
positions  were  taken,  and  are  still  held. 

"  It  is  impossible,  at  this  time,  to  give  particular  in 
stances  of  dashing  gallantry,  though  there  were  many. 
It  was  quick  work,  and  splendidly  executed.  The 
number  of  prisoners  taken  is  not  at  this  time  known, 
but  it  is  believed  to  be  between  one  and  two  hundred. 
Captain  Davenport  sent  in  two  officers  and  thirty-four 
enlisted  men,  who  surrendered  to  him  after  dark,  and 


GREAT   REBELLION.  163 

over  Deep  Creek,  where  Captain  Davenport,  of  the 
Fifth,  and  Captain  Benton,  of  the  Fourth,  had  been 
sent  on  picket. 

"The  casualties  in  the  Fifth  Vermont  are  seven 
wounded.  No  casualties  in  either  of  the  other  Ver 
mont  regiments." 

On  the  8th  of  June  Colonel  Grant  further  reports 
to  General  "\Vashburn,  and  says :  — 

"  It  was  an  exciting  and  brilliant  affair,  and  no  ac 
count  can  do  ample  justice  to  the  brave  officers  and 
men  engaged.  Impetuous  enthusiasm,  when  displayed 
in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  beggars  description.  The 
two  companies  first  in  the  works  were  the  Rutland 
Company,  Captain  B.  R.  Jenne,  Fifth,  and  the  Swanton 
Company,  Captain  Friend  H.  Barney,  Fifth.  The  first 
man  in  the  rifle-pits  was  private  Henry  Moren,  Com 
pany  G. 

"On  Saturday,  the  6th,  the  Sixth  Vermont  was 
skirmishing  nearly  all  day.  They  occupied  a  position 
from  the  river  on  the  left,  by  the  Bernard  House, 
round  across  the  Bowling  Green  road  to  Deep  Creek. 
The  Sixth  lost  in  the  skirmish  of  that  day  four  killed 
and  thirteen  wounded.  Among  the  wounded  was 
Lieutenant  Raistrick.  There  were  no  casualties  in  the 
Second,  Third,  and  Fourth  Regiments.  The  loss  of 
the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Regiments  was  four  killed  and 
twenty  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Twenty-sixth  New 


164 


VEEMONT   IN   THE 


Jersey  Regiment  was  two  killed  and  seventeen 
wounded,  making  a  total  loss  of  forty-three  in  the 
brigade. 

"The  brigade  was  the  only  force  upon  the  south 
side  of  the  river  for  nearly  twenty-four  hours.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  6th  another  brigade  came  over  to  our 
support,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  we  were  re 
lieved  from  the  skirmish  line,  but  continued  to  hold 
the  front  line  of  battle  until  the  evening  of  the  7th, 
when  we  were  relieved  by  another  division,  and 
marched  back  to  the  north  side  of  the  river,  having 
held  the  front,  in  face  of  the  enemy,  about  fifty  hours. 
During  a  portion  of  the  time  the  enemy  developed  a 
very  large  force  in  our  front.  Officers  and  men  be 
haved  as  become  Vermonters  during  the  entire 
action." 

BATTLE    OF    GETTYSBURG. 

Under  date  of  July  11,  1863,  Colonel  Grant,  com 
manding  "Vermont  Brigade,"  reports  to  Adjutant 
General  Washburn,  that  "this  brigade  was  not  hot 
ly  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  We  ar 
rived  on  the  battle-field  at  about  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  of 
the  second  day's  battle,  having  marched  thirty  miles 
that  day.  The  position  taken  by  the  brigade  was  on 
the  extreme  left  of  the  army,  where  it  was  held  in 
reserve  and  to  guard  against  any  flank  attack.  On  the 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  165 

4th  instant  the  Fourth  Regiment  was  sent  forward  to 
feel  of  the  enemy's  right,  and  quite  a  smart  skirmish 
followed,  in  which  our  men  showed  their  usual  gallant 
ry.  Our  loss  was  one  man,  John  F.  Marshall,  wound 
ed  in  the  arm  and  knee  severely. 

"  Yesterday,  the  10th  instant,  at  an  early  hour,  we 
advanced  from  Boonsboro',  on  the  Hagerstown  pike. 
The  brigade  had  the  advance  of  the  infantry  force, 
but  General  Buford's  cavalry  was  in  advance  of  this 
brigade.  The  enemy  was  met  about  three  miles  from 
Boonsboro',  and  driven  by  the  cavalry  about  three 
miles,  to  near  Funkstown.  Here  the  cavalry  met  the 
enemy's  infantry,  and,  after  skirmishing  a  while,  fell 
back,  leaving  the  brigade  in  front.  At  the  time  the 
cavalry  fell  back,  this  brigade  was  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  in  advance  of  any  support  except  one 
battery. 

"  The  enemy,  seeing  the  cavalry  fall  back,  immedi 
ately  advanced  their  skirmishers  to  gain  a  crest  and 
some  woods  previously  occupied  by  our  cavalry ;  but 
the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Regiments  immediately  advanced 
their  skirmishers,  and  took  possession  of  the  woods 
and  crest  before  the  enemy  could  do  so.  The  enemy 
then  opened  a  terrible  artillery  fire  upon  our  skirmish 
line  and  the  woods,  and  continued  it  for  several  min 
utes,  from  batteries  near  Funkstown,  beyond  the  range 
of  our  artillery. 


166 


VERMONT   IN    THE 


"It  was  evident  at  a  glance  that  the  position  was  an 
•important  one,  and  that  the  enemy  would  be  likely  to 
follow  up  their  artillery  fire  by  an  infantry  attack.  To 
repel  this,  Colonel  Stoughton,  of  the  Fourth,  was  sent 
to  support  the  Fifth,  and  Colonel  Seaver,  of  the  Third, 
was  sent  to  support  the  Sixth,  and  the  Second,  Colonel 
Walbridge,  was  brought  forward  to  support  the  bat 
tery.  Colonels  Stoughton  and  Seaver  had  instructions 
to  deploy  so  much  of  their  respective  regiments  as 
might  be  found  necessary  to  hold  the  line  at  all  haz 
ards.  Their  arrival  was  opportune,  for  the  enemy  not 
only  threw  forward  his  skirmishers,  but  advanced 
strong  lines  of  infantry,  and  charged  upon  our  skir 
mish  line.  The  advance  was  nobly  met  and  severely 
repulsed.  A  considerable  portion  of  the  Fourth,  and 
three  companies  of  the  Third,  were  deployed,  to 
strengthen  such  portions  of  the  line  of  the  Fifth  and 
Sixth  as  were  attacked  by  the  enemy's  main  force. 
The  enemy  repeatedly  charged  upon  our  line,  and 
were  as  often  met  and  driven  back. 

"  While  this  was  going  on  in  the  front,  it  was  found 
that  the  enemy  had  advanced  a  force  to  our  left,  and 
were  crossing  the  Antietam,  to  get  in  the  rear  of  the 
left  of  our  skirmish  line.  Colonel  Walbridge  was  im 
mediately  dispatched,  with  five  companies  of  the  Sec 
ond,  *to  repel  their  advance  and  drive  them  back,  which 
was  most  effectually  done.  At  this  point  of  time  the 


GREAT    REBELLION.  167 

brigade  was  nearly  all  employed  upon  the  skirmish 
line,  which  extended  a  distance  of  two  or  three  miles, 
with  no  support  within  one  and  a  half  miles,  except 
the  three  companies  of  the  Second,  which  were  left  in 
support  of  the  battery. 

"  It  is  believed  that  another  instance  of  a  skirmish 
line,  necessarily  extending  over  so  great  a  distance,  re 
peatedly  repelling  the  assaults  of  strong  lines  of  in 
fantry  at  different  points,  cannot  be  found  in  the  his 
tory  of  any  war.  It  is  said  that  as  the  enemy's  lines 
went  back  in  confusion,  some  of  our  men  jumped  upon 
a  fence,  and,  tauntingly  calling  them  cowards,  told 
them  to  come  back ;  that  there  was  nothing  there  but 
militia. 

"  Our  loss  was  nine  killed  and  fifty-nine  Wounded,  in 
all  sixty-eight.  The  enemy's  loss  could  not  have  been 
less  than  two  hundred  or  three  hundred,  for  at  every 
point  they  were  terribly  slaughtered.  Among  our 
wounded,  I  regret  to  name  such  gallant  officers  as 
Colonel  Stoughton,  of  the  Fourth  Vermont,  Lieuten 
ant  Drury,  of  the  Second  Vermont,  Lieutenant  Mar 
tin,  of  the  Fourth  Vermont,  and  Lieutenant  Kimball, 
of  the  Sixth  Vermont." 

BATTLE    OF   RAPPAHANNOCK    STATION. 

Our  army  met  the  enemy  in  force  at  Rappahannock 
Station,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1863.  The  Vermont 


168  VEKMONT   IN    THE 

Brigade  was  not  act  vely  engaged,  but  was  under  a 
heavy  artillery  fire  all  the  afternoon,  without  casualties. 

On  the  8th  of  November  the  brigade  crossed  the 
Rappahannock,  and  went  into  camp  near  Brandy  Sta 
tion.  On  the  27th  they  moved  about  four  miles,  in 
support  of  the  Third  Corps  at  the  battle  of  Locust 
Grove.  The  brigade  was  not  engaged,  but  was  under 
heavy  artillery  fire,  causing  a  few  casualties. 

On  the  28th  of  November  they  joined  the  right  of 
the  main  army  at  Robertson's  Tavern,  and  were  in  line 
of  battle  on  the  east  bank  of  Mine  River  until  Decem 
ber  2d,  when  they  re-crossed  the  Rapidan,  and  again 
went  into  camp  near  Brandy  Station,  where  they  re 
mained  most  of  the  time  inactive,  until  the  4th  of  May, 
1864,  when  they  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Gcrmania 
Ford,^and  went  into  camp  two  miles  south  of  it. 

BATTLES    OF    THE    WILDERNESS. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  1864,  General  U.  S.  Grant 
was  appointed  Lieutenant  General,  and  constituted 
Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the  armies  of  the  United 
States.  President  Lincoln  is  said  to  have  asked  Gen 
eral  Grant  what  was  next  to  be  done,  and  he  replied, 
"  Destroy  Lee's  army,  and  take  Richmond." 

The  battles  of  the  Wilderness  took  place  from  the 
5th  to  the  10th  of  May,  1864,  and  were  among  the 
most  sanguinary  of  the  war.  The  "Vermont  Brigade" 


GREAT    REBELLION.  169 

was  engaged  in  most  of  them,  and  suffered  severely  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Colonel  Lewis  A. 
Grant  was  promoted  to  brigadier  general  on  the  27th 
of  April,  1864,  and  was  in  command  of  the  brigade. 
The  following  concise  account  of  the  participation  of 
this  brigade  in  those  engagements,  is  from  Adjutant 
General  Washburn's  report  for  1864 :  — 

"  On  the  4th  of  May  the  Brigade  crossed  the  Rapi- 
dan  at  Germania  Ford,  and  encamped  for  the  night 
two  miles  south  of  the  Ford.  The  next  two  days 
they  were  engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
one  of  the  most  important  and  sanguinary  of  the  war. 
On  the  morning  of  the  5th  they  were  moved  up  the 
Brock  road,  across  the  old  pike  to  where  the  Brock 
road  crosses  the  plank  road.  The  rebels  were  moving, 
in  heavy  columns,  down  the  old  pike  and  the  plank 
road,  which  run  nearly  parallel  from  Orange  Court 
House  to  Chancellorsville,  about  two  miles  apart,  and 
in  the  general  direction  of  the  river  —  intending  to 
pierce  the  Union  lines,  and  sever  from  the  main  army 
Hancock's  Corps,  which  had  crossed  the  river  at  a  ford 
below  the  Germania  Ford,  and  was  coming  into  posi 
tion  from  the  direction  of  Cbancellorsville,  upon  the 
Brock  road,  beyond  the  point  where  that  road  crosses 
the  plank  road.  The  Vermont  Brigade,  and  two  other 
brigades  of  the  same  division,  —  the  First  and  Fourth, 
—  were  detached  for  this  occasion  from  the  Sixth 


170  VERMONT   IN    THE 

Corps.  As  the  brigade  came  to  the  place  where  the 
roads  crossed,  they  found  the  rebel  advance  driving 
before  them  the  Union  cavalry  down  the  plank  road, 
and  within  a  short  distance  of  the  crossing,  which  was 
the  key  of  the  position.  Here  the  brigade  was  formed, 
and  hastily  threw  up  slight  intrenchments  upon  the 
right  of  the  road  and  in  its  direction.  They  were 
then  ordered  to  advance  and  attack,  and  it  would  seem 
that  the  enemy  were  advancing  to  attack  at  the  same 
time.  The  two  lines  met  in  the  compact  woods, 
where  neither  could  see  the  other  at  any  distance,  and 
the  sanguinary  battle  of  the  Wilderness  commenced. 
Probably  no  more  fearfully  destructive  fire  of  musketry 
was  ever  maintained.  The  rebels  had  the  advantage 
of  being  protected  by  a  slight  swell  of  ground,  and 
rained  their  showers  of  bullets  upon  the  unprotected 
ranks  of  the  <  Old  Brigade.'  And  their  fire  was  un 
flinchingly  met  and  returned.  Officers  of  rank  and 
men  were  falling  every  moment ;  the  ranks  were  be 
coming  fearfully  thinned,  but  no  man  thought  of  re 
treating.  They  held  the  very  key  of  the  position  of 
the  whole  army.  If  they  faltered,  Hancock's  Corps, 
which  was  then  coming  into  position  upon  their  left, 
would  be  cut  off  from  the  residue  of  the  army,  and 
perhaps  be  destroyed  by  the  simultaneous  attack,  on 
front  and  flank,  of  overwhelming  masses  of  the  enemy. 
But  the  brave  men  of  Vermont  held  their  position, 


GREAT   REBELLION.  171 

and  repulsed  gloriously  every  attempt  to  dislodge 
them,  and  notwithstanding  every  regimental  com 
mander  in  the  brigade,  except  one,  was  either  killed  or 
wounded.  They  slept  that  night  amid  the  horrors  of 
the  battle-field,  with  the  dead  bodies  of  their  com 
rades  about  them,  and  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and 
dying  filling  the  air.  One  thousand  brave  officers  and 
men  of  the  Vermont  Brigade  fell  on  that  bloody  field. 
"  On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  brigade  again  ad 
vanced  to  the  attack,  moving  up  the  plank  road,  with 
four  lines  of  battle  in  their  front.  The  enemy  had 
fallen  back,  but  were  met  about  a  mile  from  the  cross 
roads,  and  the  fierce  conflict  again  commenced.  The 
brigade  occupied  a  slightly  elevated  position,  where  the 
enemy  had  thrown  together  two  irregular  lines  of  old 
logs  and  decayed  timber.  The  four  lines  in  front  of 
them  were  swept  away  by  the  tide  of  battle,  and  the 
advancing  enemy  came  upon  the  '  Vermont  Brigade ' 
with  great  force,  but  were  checked  by  the  fierce  fire 
that  met  them,  and  thrown  back  in  confusion.  Again 
and  again  they  advanced  to  the  attack,  and  -were  as 
often  repulsed,  until  the  Union  forces  upon  the  right 
and  left  had  given  way  or  fallen  back.  Then  the  ene- 
erny  closed  round  upon  the  left  and  rear,  and  at  the 
same  time  again  attacked  in  front.  The  position  was 
most  critical;  but  the  brave  old  brigade  remained 
sufficiently  long  to  signally  repulse  the  attack  in  front, 


172  VERMONT   IN   THE 

and  then,  taking  advantage  of  the  confusion  caused 
in  the  rebel  ranks,  fell  back  safely  to  the  intrenchments 
which  they  had  constructed  upon  the  Brock  road. 
Here,  again,  late  in  the  afternoon,  the  enemy  made 
another  vigorous,  determined,  and  desperate  attack, 
but  were  driven  back,  repulsed,  and  defeated. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  a  strong  skirmish  line 
was  sent  out,  under  command  of  Major  Crandall,  of 
the  Sixth  Regiment,  who  was  entirely  successful,  driv 
ing  back  the  enemy's  skirmishers  sufficiently  to  ascer 
tain  that  their  main  body  had  retired,  and  capturing  a 
large  number  of  muskets,  which  the  enemy  had  col 
lected  from  the  battle-field  of  the  previous  days.  In 
the  afternoon  the  brigade  joined  the  Sixth  Corps,  and 
soon  after  dark  commenced  the  flank  movement  to 
ward  Spottsylvania. 

"  The  brigade  crossed  the  Rapidan  on  the  4th  of 
May,  with  about  twenty-eight  hundred  effective  men. 
The  losses  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  May  5th 
and  6th,  were  twelve  hundred  and  thirty-two,  as  fol 
lows  :  — 

Killed.      Wounded.     Missing.        Total. 

Brigade  Staff,  Oil  2 

Second  Regiment,  45           220           32  297 

Third  Regiment,  34           184          21  239 

Fourth  Regiment,  39           189           29  257 

Fifth  Regiment,  28           179           31  238 

Sixth  Regiment,  30           152           17  199 

Totals,  176          925        131  1232 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  173 

"  The  unusual  proportion  of  casualties  is  the  best 
evidence  both  of  the  severity  of  the  fight  and  the 
bravery  of  the  officers  and  men  engaged. 

"  The  casualties  among  the  officers  were  particularly 
severe.  Of  the  Second  Regiment,  Colonel  Newton 
Stone,  Lieutenant  Colonel  John  S.  Tyler,  and  Captain 
Orville  Bixby ;  of  the  Third  Regiment,  Captain  Enoch 
H.  Bartlett,  Captain  Erastus  Buck,  and  Adjutant  Abel 
Morrill ;  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  Captain  Daniel  W. 
Farr,  Captain  Daniel  Lillie,  and  Lieutenants  Isaac  A. 
Putnam,  Thomas  Ensworth,  Winfield  S.  Wooster, 
and  William  H.  Martin  ;  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  Cap 
tains  Alonzo  R.  Hurlburt,  George  D.  Davenport,  and 
Charles  J.  Ormsbee,  and  Lieutenants  Orvis  H.  Sweet 
and  Watson  O.  Beach ;  and  of  the  Sixth  Regiment, 
Colonel  Elisha  L.  Barney,  and  Captains  Riley  A.  Bird 
and  George  C.  Randall,  and  Lieutenant  Albert  A. 
Crane,  were  either  killed  or  died  of  the  wounds  re 
ceived.  They  were  of  Vermont's  bravest  sons,  and 
such  as  she  could  ill  afford  to  spare.  Colonel  George 
P.  Foster,  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  John  R.  Lewis,  commanding  Fifth  Regiment, 
were  both  severely  wounded." 

On  the  5th  of  May  the  brigade  marched  for  Chan- 
cellorsville,  and  arrived  there  on  the  morning  of  the 
8th.  On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the  Fourth  Regi 
ment,  under  command  of  Major  Pratt,  was  sent  out 


174  VERMONT   IN    THE 

to  skirmish  with  the  enemy  in  front,  and  the  residue 
of  the  brigade  fortified  their  position  under  a  fire  of 
artillery  and  musketry  at  long  range.  The  Fourth 
Regiment  lost  several  men  upon  the  skirmish  line. 

On  the  10th  of  May  the  Fourth  Regiment  drove 
the  enemy's  skirmishers  back  to  their  line  of  works, 
behaving  with  great  coolness  and  courage,  and  received 
high  commendation. 

The  Second  Regiment,  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  S.  E.  Pingree,  the  Fifth,  Major  C.  P. 
Dudley,  the  Sixth,  Colonel  O.  A.  Hale,  the  whole  un 
der  command  of  Colonel  Thomas  O.  Seaver,  of  the 
Third  Regiment,  composed  a  part  of  the  column  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Upton,  wThich  charged  the  enemy's 
works.  The  charging  column  was  disposed  in  three 
lines,  the  Vermont  regiments  forming  the  rear  lines. 
Says  Adjutant  General  Washburn,  in  his  annual  report 
for  1864,  "The  front  lines  were  at  first  successful,  cap 
turing  the  works  and  many  prisoners,  but  were  driven 
back  by  the  enemy.  The  three  Vermont  regiments, 
under  Colonel  Seaver,  then  advanced,  and  under  n 
most  galling  fire,  occupied  the  rebel  works,  while  the 
other  regiments  fell  back.  Orders  were  given  for  all 
to  fall  back ;  but  they  failed  to  reach  the  Second  Regi 
ment  and  some  of  each  of  the  others,  who  remained 
in  the  works,  obstinately  defending  them  against  all 
attacks  of  the  enemy,  and  refusing  to  fall  back,  pro- 


GREAT    REBELLION.  175 

testing  that  they  could  hold  the  works  for  six  months, 
if  supplied  with  rations  and  ammunition,  until  they 
received  positive  orders  to  do  so.  In  this  charge,  the 
gallant  Major  Dudley,  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  fell  of 
wounds,  of  which  he  subsequently  died.  His  loss  was 
severely  felt  in  the  brigade  and  at  home.  The  four 
companies  of  the  Third  Regiment,  on  the  skirmish  line, 
advanced  with  the  attacking  column,  and  a  portion  of 
them  remained  in  the  rebel  works  until  the  last." 

On  the  llth  of  May  the  brigade  held  its  position,  and 
was  constantly  under  fire,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  12th 
moved  with  the  Corps  to  the  left,  to  cooperate  with  the 
Second  Corps,  under  General  Hancock,  who  had  made 
his  celebrated  charge,  capturing  two  general  officers, 
several  guns,  and  many  prisoners,  and  was  vigorously 
defending  the  works  he  had  captured  against  a  superior 
force  of  the  enemy.  The  brigade  marched  into  position 
under  a  terrific  fire  from  the  rebel  batteries,  and  lost  a 
number  of  men.  The  brigade  was  formed  in  two  lines 
on  the  extreme  left.  Brigadier  General  Grant,  with 
the  regiments  of  the  second  line,  was  ordered  to  the 
right,  to  assist  General  Wheaton,  and  Colonel  Seaver 
was  left  in  command  of  the  front  line.  General  Whea 
ton  was  endeavoring  to  advance  with  his  brigade,  in 
the  face  of  a  deadly  fire  from  the  enemy's  rifle-pits, 
when  the  Vermont  regiments  moved  briskly  up  to  his 
support,  the  Fourth  regiment,  under  Major  Pratt, 


176  VERMONT    IN    THE 

taking  and  holding  the  front  line.  The  Fourth  regi 
ment  remaining  in  its  position,  General  Grant  returned 
to  the  center,  where  he  was  joined  by  the  residue  of 
the  brigade,  under  Colonel  Seaver,  and  the  whole, 
except  the  Sixth  Regiment,  which  was  held  in  reserve, 
were  put  into  the  engagement. 

"  This  was  the  important  point  for  both  armies,  and 
the  fighting  here,  upon  both  sides,  was  of  the  most 
desperate  character.  It  was  a  hand-to-hand  fight. 
The  combatants  were  separated  only  by  a  breastwork 
of  logs  and  rails,  and  they  fired  into  each  other's  faces, 
and  frequently  clubbed  their  muskets  to  make  or  repel 
assault.  In  this  way  the  brigade  was  engaged  for 
about  eight  hours,  when  they  were  relieved  and  marched 
to  the  rear.  The  loss  of  the  brigade  was  heavy,  but 
the  works  wrere  held." 

On  the  13th  a  portion  of  the  brigade  was  engaged 
in  skirmishing.  On  the  15th  the  Eleventh  Vermont 
Regiment,  with  about  fifteen  hundred  effective  men, 
joined  the  brigade,  and  two  companies  of  drafted  men, 
who  had  been  on  duty  at  Brattleboro'  for  several  mouths, 
were  added  to  the  Sixth  Regiment. 

On  the  16th,  Colonel  Seaver,  with  his  own  and  a 
Massachusetts  regiment,  made  a  reconnoissance  in  the 
direction  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  driving  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  into  the  main  line  of  their  works 
in  a  most  gallant  manner. 


GEE  AT   EEBELLION.  177 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the  Second  and  Sixth 
Corps  charged  the  enemy's  works,  advancing  about 
half  a  mile  under  heavy  artillery  fire.  The  Vermont 
Brigade  had  the  front  for  some  time,  when  the  whole 
were  ordered  to  retire.  Colonel  Warner,  of  the  Elev 
enth,  was  severely  wounded  in  this  charge. 

On  the  19th,  20th,  and  21st  there  was  some  heavy 
skirmishing,  in  which  the  Vermont  Brigade  participated, 
taking  several  prisoners.  On  the  evening  of  the  21st, 
the  Sixth  Corps  marched  towards  Guinea's  Station. 

The  total  loss  of  the  Brigade,  from  the  4th  of  May, 
when  they  crossed  the  Rapidan,  to  the  21st,  was  six 
teen  hundred  and  fifty,  as  follows :  — 

Regiments.  Killed.  Wounded.  Missing.  Total. 


Second, 

80 

340 

34 

454 

Third, 

48 

243 

33 

324 

Fourth, 

46 

229 

33 

308 

Fifth, 

38 

229 

51 

318 

Sixth, 

35 

176 

19 

230 

Eleventh, 

2 

14 

00 

16 

Totals,  249  1231  170  1650 

When  the  original  regiments  of  the  Brigade  crossed 
the  Rapidan,  on  the  4th  of  May,  it  numbered  twenty- 
eight  hundred  men,  out  of  which  they  lost  sixteen 
hundred  and  thirty-four  —  more  than  half  its  entire 
number  in  seventeen  days. 


178  VERMONT    IN    THE 

On  the  1st  of  June  the  Brigade  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  holding  the  extreme  left  of  the 
line  of  the  Sixth  and  -Eighteenth  Corps.  Major 
Fleming's  Battalion,  and  Captain  Sears'  Company, 
of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  made  a  gallant  charge 
upon  the  enemy's  works,  under  a  destructive  fire. 
They  were  unsupported,  and  did  not  carry  the  works, 
but  held  the  ground  they  had  gained.  On  the  2d  the 
Brigade  changed  its  position,  and  was  for  a  time  under 
a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy. 

"Early  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  a  general  but 
unsuccessful  attack  was  made  upon  the  enemy's  works. 
In  front  of  the  Vermont  Brigade  were  two  regiments, 
in  line  of  battle,  under  General  Wheaton,  and  as  these 
regiments  advanced,  the  Brigade  moved  up  promptly 
to  their  support.  Colonel  Seaver  advanced  his  Third 
Regiment  to  the  front  line,  and  relieved  one  of  Gen 
eral  Wheaton's  regiments,  and  soon  after  the  Fifth 
Regiment  was  advanced,  and  relieved  the  other  regi 
ment  in  the  front  line.  The  Third  and  Fifth  Regi 
ments  were  greatly  exposed,  having  no  protection 
except  the  trees  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  suffered 
very  severely.  They  were  subsequently  withdrawn, 
and  a  skirmish  line  left  in  their  place,  which  held  the 
position  the  remainder  of  the  day." 

The  casualties  of  the  Brigade,  from  the  21st  of  May 
to  the  4th  of  June,  were  two  hundred  and  eighty,  in 


GREAT    EEBELLION.  179 

which  the  Eleventh  Regiment  suffered  most,  its  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  being  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
four.  Captain  Merrill  T.  Samson,  of  the  Fifth  Regi 
ment,  Lieutenant  Hiram  C.  Bailey,  of  the  Second,  and 
Lieutenant  Henry  C.  Miller,  of  the  Third,  all  valued 
and  brave  officers,  fell  in  the  engagement  of  the  3d 
of  June. 

The  Brigade  held  the  front  line  from  the  3d  to  the 
llth  of  June.  On  the  night  of  the  12th«they  started 
on  the  march  for  Petersburg.  It  had  been  under  an 
incessant  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  for  twelve 
days.  The  front  line  was  constantly  engaged,  the 
regiments  occupying  the  front  line  by  turns,  a  change 
being  made  every  night.  They  engaged  the  enemy 
by  day,  and  advanced  by  parallels,  and  strengthened 
their  works  by  night. 

The  casualties  in  the  Brigade,  from  the  4th  to  the 
10th  of  June,  were,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing, 
forty-eight.  Those  in  the  Eleventh  Regiment  were 
nineteen.  Major  Richard  B.  Crandall,  of  the  Sixth 
Regiment,  a  brave  young  officer,  fell  in  front  of  the 
enemy's  works  on  the  7th  of  June. 

BATTLE    OF   PETERSBURG. 

The  Vermont  Brigade  crossed  the  Chickahominy  on 
the  13th  of  June,  1864,  the  James  River  on  the  16th, 
and  arrived  near  Petersburg  on  the  afternoon  of  the 


180  VERMONT    IN    THE 

17th,  and  that  night  occupied  the  rebel  works,  which 
had  been  carried  that  day.  On  the  morning  of  the 
18th  there  was  a  general  attack  upon  the  rebel  lines, 
when  it  was  found  that  they  had  fallen  back  to  a  new 
position  during  the  night.  In  the  afternoon  our  troops 
made  an  attack,  and  drove  the  enemy  still  further 
back.  The  Vermont  Brigade,  except  the  Second  and 
Fifth  Regiments,  which  held  the  skirmish  line,  were 
held  in  reserve,  and  did  not  participate  in  the  engage 
ment  until  night,  when  it  was  placed  in  the  front  line, 
and  held  it  during  the  next  day,  skirmishing  with  the 
'enemy,  and  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire.  On  the  20th 
the  Brigade  relieved  General  Gibbon's  Division  of  the 
Second  Corps,  and  held  the  position  during  the  day, 
the  front  lines  being  engaged.  The  casualties  from 
the  llth  to  the  20th  of  June  were,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  thirteen. 

On  the  23d  Captain  Beattie,  of  the  Third  Regiment, 
with  about  ninety  picked  men,  pushed  forward  to  the 
Weldon  Railroad,  and  a  portion  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
Brigade  went  on  to  the  road  and  commenced  its  de 
struction.  The  Fourth,  and  Major  Fleming's  Battalion, 
of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  occupied  an  advanced  posi 
tion  as  skirmishers.  The  enemy  attacked  the  party 
upon  the  railroad,  and  drove  them  back,  closed  in  from 
both  sides  upon  the  rear  of  the  Fourth  Regiment 
and  Major  Fleming's  Battalion,  making  their  escape 


GREAT   REBELLION.  181 

impossible.  Though  the  men  fought  with  despera 
tion  to  the  last  moment,  and  until  their  ammuni 
tion  was  exhausted,  they  were  finally  compelled 
to  surrender. 

In  this  encounter,  Captain  William  C.  Tracy,  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment,  was  killed,  and  his  body  found  upon 
the  field  the  next  day.  Lieutenant  Merritt  IT.  Sher 
man,  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  was  killed  during  the 
day.  He  was  a  brave  and  worthy  young  officer.  The 
Fourth  Regiment  lost  in  prisoners  one  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  officers  and  men,  and  the  Eleventh,  two 
hundred  and  sixty-three. 

On  the  29th  of  June  the  Vermont  Brigade  led  the 
advance  of  the  Sixth  Corps  to  Ream's  Station,  on  the 
Weldon  Railroad,  met  the  enemy,  and  drove  them 
from  the  field.  They  marched  to  City  Point  on  the 
8th  of  July,  and  on  the  9th  embarked  for  Washing 
ton.  On  the  llth  they  participated  in  the  engage 
ment  near  Fort  Stevens,  with  the  rebels  who  made 
a  demonstration  upon  Maryland  and  the  City  of 
Washington. 

The  Brigade  remained  in  and  near  Washington  until 
the  26th  of  July,  when  they  inarched  to  Harper's  Fer 
ry,  and  encamped  on  Bolivar  Heights  the  night  of  the 
29th.  They  were  engaged  in  a  slight  skirmish  on  the 
14th  of  August,  near  Strasburg,  in  which  two  men  of 
the  Second  Regiment  were  wounded. 


182  VERMONT   IN   THE 

On  the  21st  of  August  the  Brigade  was  engaged 
hotly  with  the  enemy  at  Charlestown,  Va.,  from  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  until  night.  Lieutenant  Colo 
nel  George  E.  Chamberlain,  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment, 
was  wounded  early  in  the  day,  while  gallantly  lead 
ing  his  men,  and  died  soon  after.  He  had  recently 
been  promoted,  and  was  a  young  officer  of  great 
promise,  much  respected  by  his  command  and  at 
home.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Oscar  A.  Hale,  and 
Major  Carlos  W.  Dwinnell,  of  the  Sixth  Regiment, 
were  severely  wounded.  Major  Dwinnell,  a  valued 
young  officer,  died  of  his  wounds  on  the  24th.  The 
whole  number  of  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  in 
the  Brigade  in  this  engagement  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three,  the  Sixth  and  Eleventh  Regiments  suf 
fering  most  severely. 

On  the  13th  of  September  the  Brigade  had  a  skir 
mish  with  the  enemy  at  Opequan  River,  in  which  they 
lost  one  man  killed,  and  seven  wounded. 

On  the  19th,  near  Winchester,  Va.,  the  Vermont 
Brigade  was  again  hotly  engaged,  under  command  of 
Colonel  James  N.  Warner,  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment. 
In  this  engagement,  as  on  all  other  occasions,  the  Bri 
gade  distinguished  itself  for  coolness  and  bravery.  It 
was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  most  of  the  day, 
which  resulted  in  a  signal  victory  to  our  arms.  Colonel 
Warner,  in  his  report  of  the  engagement,  says,  "  Were 


GREAT    KEBELLION.  183 

I  to  report  by  name  all  the  officers  who  distinguished 
themselves  on  this  day,  I  should  accompany  this  report 
by  a  roster  of  the  commissioned  officers  of  the  Brigade. 
I   cannot    omit,  however,  the   following  commanding 
officers  of  regiments:   Major  E.  E.  Johnson,  Second 
Vermont;  Major  Aldace  Walker,  Eleventh ;  Major  H. 
W.  Floyd,  commanding  Third  and  Fourth ;  Captains 
A.  Brown,  Jr.,  Fifth,  and  M.  W.  Davis,  Sixth  Regi 
ments,  all  of  whom  did  their  duty  nobly.     Lieutenant 
Colonel  A.  S.  Tracy,  Second  Vermont,  who  superin 
tended    a    portion    of   the   line,   is   entitled   to   great 
credit  for  being  on  the  field  on  this   occasion,   as  he 
was  suffering  from  a  severe  disability.     Captain  A.  H. 
Newt,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  Adjutant  S.  H.  Lincoln,  A.  A.  J. 
G.,  who  was  wounded  early  in  the  day,  and  Lieutenant 
H.  C.  Baxter,  A.  D.  C.,  are  deserving  of  special  men 
tion  for  their  gallantry  and  coolness  under  fire.     The 
accompanying  list  of  casualties,  which  includes  many 
of  our  best   officers  and  men,  is  evidence  of  the  stub 
bornness  of  the  fighting  in  our  front." 

The  casualties  to  the  Brigade  in  this  engagement,  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  were  two  hundred  and 
fifty-six.  Captain  Charles  Buxton  and  Lieutenant 
Dennis  Duhigg,  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  were 
killed.  Both  these  officers  had  recently  been  pro 
moted,  the  former  to  major,  and  the  latter  to  captain ; 


184  VERMONT    IN    THE 

but  their  commissions,  though  forwarded,  had  not  been 
received  at  the  time  of  their  death. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  Second  Regiment  ex 
pired  on  the  19th  of  June,  1864,  and  on  the  22d  it  was 
mustered  out  of  service  at  Brattleboro',  with  two  hun 
dred  and  nineteen  officers  and  men.  The  term  of  the 
Third  expired  July  15,  1864,  and  on  the  27th  of  that 
month  it  was  mustered  out  at  Burlington,  with  one 
hundred  and  sixty  officers  and  men.  The  term  of  the 
Fourth  expired  September  20,  1864,  and  on  the  27th 
it  was  mustered  out  of  service,  at  Brattleboro',  with 
one  hundred  and  forty-six  officers  and  men.  The  or 
ganization  of  the  Fifth  Regiment  was  preserved  by 
the  re-enlistment  of  the  requisite  number  of  men.  The 
term  of  service  of  the  original  members  expired  on  the 
15th  of  September,  1864,  and  such  of  the  men  as 
had  not  re-enlisted  were  mustered  out  of  the  ser 
vice  as  a  detachment,  in  the  field,  on  that  day,  and 
returned  to  Burlington  for  final  payment.  The  Sec 
ond,  Third,  and  Fourth,  thojtgh  mustered  out  as  regi 
ments,  were  each  represented  in  the  field  by  a  large 
number  of  men  who  had  joined  the  regiments  at  differ 
ent  times  after  its  organization,  and  preserved  their 
organization  and  numeric  designations. 

The  following  table  shows  the  losses  of  the  original 
regiments  of  the  "Vermont  Brigade,"  from  September 
30,  1863,  to  October  1,  1864:  — 


GREAT   REBELLICrtST. 


Mustered    Transf.to 

Regiments.       out  of  ser-     Veteran    IJisch'd.  Deserted.    Died, 
vice.     Res.  Corps. 


185 


Total. 


Second, 

219 

35 

50 

39 

133 

476 

Third, 

160 

29 

44 

66 

127 

426 

Fourth, 

146 

25 

33 

50 

123 

377 

Fifth, 

00 

22 

21 

30 

89 

162 

Sixth, 

00 

51 

38 

35 

94 

218 

Totals,     525        162      186      220        566       1659 


BATTLE  OP  CEDAR  CREEK. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1864,  just  before  daybreak, 
the  enemy,  in  great  force  upon  the  easterly  side  of 
Cedar  Creek,  under  Early,  made  a  sudden  and  unex 
pected  attack  upon  our  forces,  routing  and  driving 
them  back  in  great  confusion,  and  capturing  a  large 
number  of  guns  and  prisoners.  The  Union  troops 
rallied,  however,  the  Vermont  Brigade  advancing  with 
the  Sixth  Corps,  which  became  engaged  in  a  desperate 
conflict,  checking  for  a  time  the  impetuous  advance  of 
the  enemy.  The  troops  on  the  right  gave  way,  and 
the  Division  fell  back  a  short  distance  to  a  crest,  and 
formed  a  new  line,  the  Vermont  Brigade  holding  the 
center  of  its  Division. 

The  enemy  advanced  in  heavy  force,  drove  in  the 
skirmishers,  and  attacked  the  line  of  battle,  but  met 


186  VERMONT    IN    THE' 

with  a  severe  repulse.  The  attack  fell  mainly  upon 
the  Vermont  Brigade.  General  Ricketts,  who  com 
manded  the  Sixth  Corps,  was  severely  wounded,  and 
General  Getty,  who  commanded  the  Second  Division, 
assumed  the  command  of  the  Corps ;  General  L.  A. 
Grant  took  command  of  the  Division ;  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Tracy,  of  the  Second  Regiment,  took  com 
mand  of  the  Brigade. 

The  enemy  made  another  attack,  and  were  again 
severely  repulsed,  losing  many  men.  A  portion  of 
the  Union  line  finally  gave  way,  and  the  enemy 
rushed  through  a  piece  of  woods  and  opened  a  heavy 
fire  upon  our  forces,  driving  back  some  of  them,  when 
the  residue  of  the  Division  was  ordered  to  retire. 
They  retreated  about  half  a  mile,  and  took  up  a  new 
position.  The  enemy  followed,  keeping  up  an  inces 
sant  fire  of  artillery.  The  tide  of  battle  seemed  to 
be  against  the  Union  troops;  the  loss  of  men  and 
guns  had  been  very  heavy,  and  a  portion  of  our 
army  had  retreated  in  great  confusion.  The  Sixth 
Corps  had  steadily  and  gallantly  resisted  the  advance 
of  the  enemy,  giving  an  opportunity  to  reform  the 
line,  which  was  done,  with  the  Eighth  Corps  upon  the 
left,  the  Sixth  in  the  center,  and  the  Nineteenth 
upon  the  right.  The  rebels  made  a  vigorous  attack, 
mostly  upon  the  left  and  center  of  the  Union  line. 
The  Sixth  Corps  held  its  ground ;  but  the  whole  line 


GREAT   REBELLION.  187 

was  giving  way,  and  the  enemy  pressed  them  back 
towards  Newtown. 

The  Adjutant  General's  report,  for  1865,  says,  "At 
this  crisis,  General  Sheridan,  who  was  at  Winchester 
at  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  arrived  upon  the 
field.  He  rode  rapidly  down  the  pike  and  between 
the  Third  and  Second  Brigades,  and,  halting  in  front 
of  the  Second,  inquired  what  troops  they  were. 
'The  Sixth  Corps!'  'The  Vermont  Brigade!'  was 
shouted  almost  simultaneously  from  the  ranks.  'We 
are  all  right ! '  he  exclaimed ;  and,  swinging  his  hat 
over  his  head,  he  rode  rapidly  to  the  right,  arnid  the 
exultant  shouts  of  the  men." 

After  a  short  cessation  of  firing,  the  Union  troops 
were  ordered  to  attack  the  enemy,  and  the  Vermont 
Brigade  moved  forward  under  a  heavy  fire.  The  First 
and  Third  Brigades  advanced  at  the  same  time  —  the 
First  on  the  right,  and  the  Third  on  the  left,  and  both 
fell  back  under  the  severe  fire  of  the  enemy,  while 
the  Vermont  Brigade  took  position  behind  a  stone 
wall,  refusing  to  retire,  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  the 
rebels  in  front,  and  held  the  position  far  in  advance  of 
the  other  troops.  "  The  enemy  began  to  give  way, 
and  a  movement  upon  the  right  being  apparent,  the 
Brigade  sprang  over  the  stone  wall,  advancing  rapidly 
through  an  open  ravine,  and  took  position  behind 
another  stone  wall,  from  which  the  enemy  had  been 


188  VERMONT    IN    THE 

driven.  The  enemy  made  another  stand,  and  the 
Brigade  poured  into  their  ranks  a  terrible  fire  of 
musketry.  The  Third  Brigade,  having  reformed, 
took  position  upon  the  left  of  the  Vermont  Brigade. 
The  enemy  gave  way,  another  advance  was  ordered, 
and  there  was  no  halt  until  the  enemy  had  been 
driven  across  Cedar  Creek,  and  the  cavalry  had  taken 
up  the  pursuit :  it  was  the  last  victorious  charge  of 
the  day.  The  distance  from  the  point  of  attack  to 
Cedar  Creek  was  about  three  miles,  most  of  the  way 
through  an  open  country.  The  enemy's  lines  were 
entirely  broken,  and  went  back  in  great  confusion. 
They  were  rapidly  followed,  and  men  rushed  forward 
upon  the  double-quick,  those  who  could  move  the  most 
rapidly  being  found  at  the  front.  As  the  Brigade  ap 
proached  Cedar  Creek,  they  were  passed  by  two  regi 
ments  of  cavalry,  one  of  which  was  the  First  Vermont, 
and  the  infantry  then  halted  and  reorganized.  In  this 
organization  the  Vermont  Brigade  was  found  in  ad 
vance  of  all  other  troops,  except  the  cavalry,  which 
had  just  passed.  The  engagement  and  pursuit  had 
continued  from  early  morning  until  dark;  and  the 
Vermont  Brigade,  fatigued,  but  victorious,  marched 
back,  and  encamped  upon  the  same  ground  they  had 
left  in  the  morning." 

The  following  were  the  casualties  in    the  Brigade 
during  this  engagement:  — 


GEE  AT  REBELLION.  189 

Regiments.  Killed.  Wounded.  Missing.  Total. 

Second,  3  31  4  38 

Third,  3  38  1  42 

Fourth,  6  20  ,3  29 

Fifth,  2  17  3  22 

Sixth,  5  32  11  48 

Eleventh,  9  74  29  112 


Totals,  28  212  51  291 

Later  reports  increased  the  number  of  killed  to  33, 
and  reduced  the  number  of  wounded  to  210,  and  of 
missing  to  41 ;  total,  284. 

Among  the  killed  was  Second  Lieutenant  Oscar  R. 
Lee,  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment.  He  had  just  been 
commissioned  captain,  but  had  not  been  mustered  on 
his  commission.  He  was  a  brave  young  officer.  Gen 
eral  Grant,  in  his  report  of  the  engagement,  says,  "  I 
desire  to  commend  for  their  good  conduct  the  regi 
mental  commanders,  and  the  officers  and  men  in  their 
respective  commands." 

The  Brigade  marched  to  Kearnstown,  where  they 
remained  doing  picket  duty  until  the  9th  of  Decem 
ber,  when,  with  the  Sixth  Corps,  they  went  to  Wash 
ington  by  railroad,  and  by  water,  on  the  10th,  to  City 
Point,  thence  by  rail  to  Mead's  Station,  and  on  the 
13th  upon  the  Squirrel  Level  road,  and  occupied  the 
works  previously  held  by  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  went 
into  winter  quarters.  The  near  proximity  of  the  two 


190  VEEMONT    IK    THE 

lines  made  the  picket  duty,  during  a  portion  of  the 
winter,  quite  arduous,  one  tenth  of  the  entire  command 
being  required  to  remain  in  the  trenches  during  the 
night.  ^ 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1865,  just  before  daybreak, 
the  enemy  made  an  attack  upon  Fort  Steadman.  The 
Brigade  remained  in  the  works,  expecting  an  attack 
in  their  front,  and  prepared  to  give  the  rebels  a  warm 
reception,  until  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  they  moved 
to  the  left  and  front  of  Fort  Fisher,  where  the  Brigade 
was  formed  as  an  assaulting  column,  the  Sixth  Regi 
ment  being  upon  the  left  of  the  front  line.  "  The  Bri 
gade,  with  other  troops,  charged  over  an  open  field, 
upon  the  enemy's  strongly-intrenched  picket-line,  cap 
turing  nearly  his  whole  force.  In  this  affair,  both 
officers  and  men  behaved  with  their  usual  gallan 
try."  The  casualties  in  the  Brigade  were,  four  killed, 
thirty-three  wounded.  The  engagement  continued  un 
til  eight  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  the  Brigade  returned  to 
their  quarters.  The  captured  picket  line  was  held  by 
our  troops. 

On  the  27th  of  March  before  daybreak,  a  small  col 
umn  of  the  enemy  made  another  attack  upon  our 
picket  line,  which  was  repulsed  after  a  sharp  skirmish. 
The  casualties  to  the  Brigade  were,  wounded,  twen 
ty-three  ;  missing,  twenty-two.  Second  Lieutenant 
Charles  H.  Carleton,  of  the  Fourth  Regiment,  was 
among  the  wounded. 


GKEAT    REBELLION. 


191 


On  the  2d  of  April  the  Brigade  was  again  fiercely 
engaged  with  the  enemy,  in  what  proved  to  be  the 
final  battle  of  the  great  war,  resulting  as  it  did  in  the 
evacuation  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond  on  that  day, 
and  the  surrender,  on  the  9th,  of  Lee's  entire  army  to 
General  Grant. 

Early  in  this  engagement  General  L.  A.  Grant  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  head,' and  the  command  of 
the  Brigade  devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  S. 
Tracy,  of  the  Second  Regiment. 

The  troops  having  been  properly  disposed  for  an 
attack  upon  the  enemy's  works,  —  the  initiative  having 
been  assigned  to  the  Vermont  Brigade,  —  at  four 
o'clock,  at  the  appointed  signal  from  Fort  Fisher,  it 
moved  briskly  over  the  works  of  the  skirmish  line,  and 
pressed  silently  forward.  When  near  the  enemy's  first 
line  of  intrenchments,  being  discovered,  they  were  met 
by  a  confused  fire  from  the  rebels,  who  fled  in  great 
disorder.  The  command  then,  with  their  accustomed 
battle-cry,  charged  forward  for  the  enemy's  main  works, 
about  five  hundred  yards  in  their  front.  They  had 
passed  about  half  the  distance,  when  the  enemy  opened 
a  well-directed  fire  of  musketry  from  the  front,  and 
artillery  from  forts  on  either  hand,  which  caused  the 
line  to  waver  for  a  moment  only,  when  it  again  pressed 
forward  with  unsurpassed  gallantry.  "Officers  and 
men  vied  with  each  other  in  the  race  for  the  works, 


192  VERMONT    IN    THE 

and  all  organization  was  lost  in  the  eagerness  and  en 
thusiasm  of  the  troops.  The  abatis  were  passed,  and 
the  men  swarmed  over  the  works  with  exultant  shouts, 
the  rebels  fleeing  in  all  directions.  The  earthworks, 
one  to  the  right  of  the  ravine,  containing  four  guns, 
and  the  other  to  the  left,  containing  two  guns,  were 
captured." 

"  The  honor  of  being  the  first  to  break  the  enemy's 
line  is  claimed  by  the  Vermont  Brigade ;  and  the  com 
manding  officers  of  the  Fifth,  Sixth,  and  Eleventh  Reg 
iments  each  claim  that  their  colors  were  first  planted 
on  the  works.  And  it  is  claimed  that  Captain  Charles 
G.  Gould,  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  was  the  first  man  of 
the  Sixth  Corps,  to  mount  the  works.  His  regiment  was 
in  the  first  line  of  the  Brigade,  and  in  the  charge  he  was 
far  in  advance  of  his  command.  Upon  mounting  the 
works  he  received  a  severe  bayonet  wound  in  the  face, 
and  was  struck  several  times  with  clubbed  muskets, 
but  bravely  held  his  ground,  killing  with  his  saber  the 
man  who  bayoneted  him,  and  retiring  from  the  works 
only  after  his  comrades  had  come  to  his  assistance  and 
routed  the  enemy  from  their  lines." 

The  enemy  retreated  in  hot  haste  for  the  woods  in 
the  rear,  and  were  pursued  by  our  troops.  At  the  edge 
of  the  woods  the  Brigade  was  again  formed  in  line, 
the  regiments  in  their  numerical  order  from  right  to 
left.  The  whole  command  pushed  forward  vigorously 


GREAT   REBELLION.  193 

through  thickets,  swamps,  and  dense  woods,  losing  all 
organization  in  the  eagerness  of  the  men  to  surpass 
each  other  in  the  pursuit  of  the  rebels,  who  were  so 
closely  followed  that  they  could  scarcely  fire  a  shot. 
They  had  abandoned  all  idea  of  resistance,  and  seemed 
only  desirous  to  be  taken  prisoners.  The  pursuit  con 
tinued  for  about  four  miles  to  near  Hatcher's  Run. 

"  The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  in  this  second 
charge  is  represented  to  have  been  above  all  praise; 
singly,  or  in  squads  of  three  or  four,  the  men  would 
charge  upon  whatever  obstructions  came  in  their  way. 
Brevet  Major  Elijah  Wales,  of  the  Second  Regiment, 
with  two  men,  captured  a  piece  of  artillery,  turned  it 
upon  the  enemy,  and  fired  upon  them  the  charge  which 
they  had  themselves  placed  in  tile  gun.  Major  Wil 
liam  J.  Sperry,  of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  and  Lieutenant 
George  A.  Bailey,  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  assisted 
by  a  few  men,  captured  two  pieces,  and  turned  them 
upon  the  retreating  rebels.  Unable  to  procure  primers, 
the  pieces  were  discharged  by  firing  a  musket  into  the 
vent.  In  this  manner  twelve  rounds  were  fired,  when 
a  section  of  artillery  coming  up,  the  guns  were  turned 
over  to  its  commander.  Captain  George  G.  Tilden,  of 
the  Eleventh  Regiment,  with  about  a  dozen  men, 
captured  two  pieces  of  artillery,  eleven  commissioned 
ofiicers,  and  sixty-two  enlisted  men,  of  the  Forty-second 
Mississippi  Regiment.  Sergeant  Lester  G.  Hock,  Com- 


194  VERMONT  IN   THE 

pany  F,  Fifth  Regiment,  charged  a  squad  of  rebels  who 
surrounded  a  stand  of  colors,  knocked  down  the  color- 
bearer,  and  captured  the  colors.  Corporal  Charles  W. 
Dolloff,  Company  K,  Eleventh  Regiment,  also  cap 
tured  a  stand  of  colors." 

There  are  hundreds  of  instances  of  gallantry  and 
daring  by  officers  and  men  of  the  famous  Vermont 
Brigade,  which  never  have  been,  and  probably  never 
will  be,  recorded  in  history.  Their  deeds  of  bravery 
during  the  four  years  of  the  Great  Rebellion,  would, 
if  written  out,  make  a  volume  of  inconvenient  size. 
Enough  is  known  and  recorded,  however,  to  reflect 
upon  it  as  high  a  degree  of  honor  for  faithfulness,  en 
durance,  and  gallantry  as  has  been  accorded  to  any 
similar  organization  in  the  great  and  unsurpassed  army 
engaged  in  putting  down  the  most  gigantic  rebellion 
of  the  world. 

The  Brigade  went  into  camp  for  the  night  in  in- 
trenchments  which  they  threw  up  in  Petersburg.  The 
headquarters  of  the  Brigade  were  established  at  the 
Turnbrell  House,  where  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  the 
great  rebel  general,  had  had  his  headquarters  for  the 
winter. 

The  captures  of  the  Brigade,  during  the  day,  com 
prised  two  battle-flags,  nineteen  pieces  of  artillery, 
horses,  harnesses  and  equipments,  great  quantities  of 
quartermasters'  and  medical  stores,  and  several  hundred 


GREAT   REBELLION.  195 

prisoners.  The  casualties  in  the  Brigade  during  the 
day,  were  twenty-six  killed,  one  hundred  and  sixty-one 
wounded,  seven  missing;  making  a  total  of  one  hun 
dred  and  ninety-four.  The  Second,  Fifth,  and  Eleventh 
Regiments  suffered  the  most.  Among  the  killed  were 
Captain  Charles  C.  Morey,  of  the  Second  Regiment, 
and  Lieutenant  George  O.  French,  of  the  Eleventh 
Regiment,  both  excellent  officers  and  worthy  men. 

The  Brigade,  with  the  Sixth  Corps,  started  in  pur 
suit  of  the  retreating  rebel  army  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  3d  of  April,  and  came  up  with  them  at  Sailor's 
Creek,  about  five  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th, 
when  an  engagement  took  place,  in  which  the  Vermont 
troops  did  not  participate.  The  enemy  were  routed. 
In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  Colonel  Tracy,  with 
the  Second,  and  a  regiment  from  the  First  Brigade, 
had  an  engagement  with  the  enemy,  which  resulted  in 
completely  driving  the  enemy  from  the  front,  and  leav 
ing  Colonel  Tracy  in  possession  of  the  ground.  He 
reports  that  the  last  shot  fired  at  the  enemy  by  the 
Sixth  Corps  was  fired  by  the  Second  Vermont  Regi 
ment  in  this  engagement. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  army,  on  the  9th  of 
April,  the  Brigade  marched  to  Danville,  Va.,  a  dis 
tance  of  one  hundred  and  five  miles,  in  a  little  more 
than  four  days.  From  there  they  moved  to  Man 
chester,  Va.,  and  thence  to  Munson's  Hill,  Va.,  near 


196  VERMONT    IN    THE 

Washington,  D.  C.,  where  they  remained  until  mus 
tered  out  of  service. 

SEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  was  successively  commanded 
by  Colonels  George  T.  Roberts,  of  Rutland,  who  died 
August  7,  1862,  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Baton 
Rouge,  two  days  before;  William  C.  Holbrook,  of 
Brattleboro',  resigned  June  2,  1865 ;  David  B.  Peck, 
mustered  out  of  service  as  lieutenant  colonel,  August 
26,  1865;  Henry  M.  Porter,  of  Middlebury,  mustered 
out  as  lieutenant  colonel  with  the  regiment,  March  14, 
1866.  The  two  latter  were  commissioned  as  colonels, 
but  for  want  of  a  sufficient  number  of  men  were  not 
mustered  as  such. 

This  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  following  bat 
tles  :  — 

Siege  of  Vicksburg,  June  and  July,  1862. 

Baton  Rouge,  August  5, 1862. 

Gonzale  Station,  July  15,  1864. 

Spanish  Fort,  March  27  to  April  11,  1865. 

Whistler,  April  13,  1865. 

This  Regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  at  Brattleboro',  on  the  12th  of  February,  1862, 
and  was  sent  to  Ship  Island,  and  subsequently  moved 
to  New  Orleans.  The  men  suffered  severely  from  ex- 


GREAT   REBELLION.  197 

posure  during  the  unsuccessful  attack  upon  Vicksburg, 
and  afterward  in  camp.  Two  hundred  and  eighty-five 
of  the  men  died  previous  to  December  1,  1862.  They 
were  moved  to  Pensacola,  and  a  portion  of  the  com 
panies  garrisoned  Fort  Pickens.  A  portion  of  the 
regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Baton  Rouge, 
August  5,  1862,  and  fought  bravely,  during  which  its 
Colonel,  George  T.  Roberts,  was  mortally  wounded, 
and  died  two  days  afterward.  An  attempt  was  made 
to  show  that  the  regiment  behaved  badly  on  that  occa 
sion  ;  but  an  investigation,  demanded  by  its  officers, 
into  the  facts,  proved  the  contrary,  and  that  Vermont 
need  not  blush  for  the  conduct  of  her  Seventh  Regi 
ment. 

The  regiment  was  stationed  in  the  District  of  W-est 
Florida,  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  up  to  August, 
18G4,  performing  garrison  and  picket  duty  by  detach 
ments.  It  had  very  little  service  as  a  body.  In  Jan 
uary,  1864,  Lieutenant  Ross,  with  Company  B,  was 
ordered  to  Point  Washington,  at  the  head  of  Choctaw- 
hotchie  Bay,  to  protect  and  forward  refugees  wishing  to 
enter  our  lines  and  enlist  in  our  army.  He  advanced 
twenty-five  miles  into  the  interior,  and  captured  a 
company  of  rebel  infantry,  of  about  fifty,  that  had  been 
stationed  there  to  prevent  refugees  and  deserters 
escaping  to  our  lines.  While  returning  to  Point 
Washington,  he  was  surprised  by  a  superior  force  of 


198  VERMONT    IN    THE 

rebel  cavalry,  and  captured,  with  eleven  of  his  men  and 
all  his  prisoners. 

In  February,  1864,  all  the  original  men  in  this  regi 
ment,  except  fifty-eight,  re-enlisted.  The  re-enlisted 
men  were  given  a  furlough,  and  the  others  were  mus 
tered  out  at  the  end  of  the  term  of  their  enlistment. 
On  the  departure  of  the  regiment  for  home,  August  10, 
1864,  the  re-enlisted  men  for  furlough  and  the  others 
to  be  mustered  out,  General  Asboth,  commanding  of 
ficer  of  the  West  District  of  Florida,  issued  a  compli 
mentary  order,  in  which  he  said,  "  The  Seventh  Ver 
mont  Veteran  Volunteers,  being  about  to  leave  this 
district,  the  general  commanding  considers  it  his  pleas 
ant  duty  to  express  his  full  appreciation  of  the  good 
order  and  discipline  always  maintained,  and  efficient 
service  constantly  rendered  by  them,  not  only  as  in 
fantry,  at  their  several  posts  and  in  the  field,  but  also 
most  conspicuously  as  artillerists,  at  the  important  forts 
of  Pickens  and  Barrancas." 

On  the  27th  of  September,  the  furloughs  of  the  re- 
enlisted  men  having  expired,  they  assembled  at  Brattle- 
boro',  and  on  the  30th  departed  for  New  Orleans, 
where  they  remained  until  February,  1865,  when  they 
embarked  for  Mobile  Point,  Alabama,  where  they  re 
mained  until  the  17th  of  March,  and  then  left  for 
Spanish  Fort,  before  which  it  arrived  on  the  27th,  and 
was  attached  to  the  Third  Division,  Thirteenth  Army 


GREAT   REBELLION.  199 

Corps,  and  was  several  times  engaged  in  heavy  skir 
mishing,  and  under  severe  fire  of  artillery  and  mus 
ketry. 

During  the  last  few  days  of  the  siege  of  Spanish 
Fort,  the  regiment  assisted  in  putting  the  siege  guns 
in  position,  and  making  approaches.  The  officers  and 
men,  in  every  instance,  behaved  with  great  gallantry. 
The  casualties  in  the  regiment  from  March  19  to 
April  11  were  eighteen  wounded,  and  twenty-five 
captured. 

On  the  12th  of  April  the  regiment,  with  its  division, 
marched  through  Mobile,  and  thence  to  Whistler,  a 
station  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  about  six 
miles  from  Mobile,  where  they  found  a  body  of  rebel 
cavalry,  who  retreated  after  a  brisk  skirmish. 

The  regiment  went  to  Clarksville,  Texas,  and  re 
mained  there,  and  in  other  places  in  that  State,  doing 
guard  and  other  duty,  until  the  14th  of  March,  1866, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  with  twenty-two 
commissioned  officers  and  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  enlisted  men,  and  returned  to  Brattleboro',  where 
they  arrived  on  the  5th  of  April,  and  were  paid  and 
discharged. 

EIGHTH  REGIMENT. 

This  regiment  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  18th 
of  February,  1862,  and  was  successively  commanded 


200  VERMONT    IN    THE 

by  Colonels  Stephen  Thomas,  of  West  Fairlee,  who 
was  promoted  to  brigadier  general  February  1,  18C5, 
and  John  B.  Mead,  of  Randolph,  who  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment. 

This  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  following  bat 
tles:— 

Gotten,  January  14,  1863. 

Bisland,  April  2,  1863. 
Siege  of  Port  Hudson,      May  25  to  July  9,  1863. 

Winchester,  September  19,  1864. 

Fisher's  Hill,  September  21  and  22, 1864. 

Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1864. 

Newtown,  November  11, 1864. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  left  the  State  on  the  6th  of 
March,  1862,  with  one  thousand  and  fifteen  officers 
and  men;  joined  General  Butler's  expedition,  and 
went  to  New  Orleans,  and  were  stationed  at  Algiers, 
opposite  that  city,  during  the^  summer  of  1862,  de 
tachments  being  stationed  temporarily  at  different 
points,  and  sent  out  on  expeditions  as  occasion  re 
quired. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1862,  a  detachment  from 
this  regiment  was  engaged  in  a  heavy  skirmish  with 
the  enemy  at  Bayou  des  Allemands,  where  the  loss 
amounted  to  sixteen  killed,  twenty  wounded,  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  missing.  Among  the  miss- 


GEEAT   KEBELLION.  201 

ing  were  Captain  Edward  Hall  and  Lieutenant  An 
drew  J.  Sargent,  of  Company  E,  and  Lieutenants 
Greene  and  Mead,  of  Company  G.  Of  those  who  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  seven  were  shot  by  the 
rebels  on  the  23d  of  October  as  deserters,  four  died  at 
Vicksburg,  two  were  held  as  hostages,  two  were  held 
as  deserters,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-two,  with 
their  officers,  were  paroled. 

During  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  the  regiment  dis 
tinguished  itself  for  coolness  and  bravery  whenever 
brought  into  action.  They  participated  in  the  assault 
on  the  27th  of  May,  and  also  on  the  14th  of  June, 
1863,  showing  the  same  gallantry  that  distinguished 
Vermont  troops  everywhere  during  the  war.  The 
casualties  in  the  regiment  during  the  siege  were 
twenty-four  killed,  one  hundred  and  twenty  wounded} 
and  two  missing. 

On  the  1st  of  April  that  portion  of  the  regiment 
which  had  re-enlisted  was  ordered  home  to  receive 
their  furlough,  arriving  in  the  State  on  the  15th. 
The  residue  remained  at  Algiers,  under  command  of 
Major  John  L.  Barstow,  until  the  6th  of  May,  when 
they  removed  to  Thibodeaux,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles. 
On  the  3d  of  June  they  were  rejoined  by  those  who 
had  been  home  on  furlough ;  and  on  the  5th,  the  orig 
inal  members  of  the  regiment,  who  had  not  re-enlisted, 
were  ordered  to  Vermont  to  be  mustered  out  of  service. 


202  VERMONT  IN  THE 

On  the  5th  of  July  the  regiment  left  New  Orleans, 
and  arrived  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  on  the  13th,  and 
marched  to  Tenallytown,  thence  to  Snicker's  Gap,  and 
back  to  Chain  Bridge  on  the  23d.  It  was  attached  to 
the  Nineteenth  Corps,  constituting  a  part  of  the  army 
under  Sheridan. 

On  the  19th  of  September  the  Eighth  Regiment  was 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Opequan  Creek ,  near  Win 
chester,  fighting  bravely  and  nobly,  every  officer  and 
man  doing  his  whole  duty.  Co.  F  were  sent  forward 
as  skirmishers ;  Co.  D,  Captain  Getchell,  and  Co.  K, 
Captain  Ford,  were'  sent  to  the  right,  to  occupy  a 
space  beyond  the  right  of  the  Brigade.  The  remain 
der  of  the  regiment  were  sent  to  the  front,  with  the 
Twelfth  Connecticut,  and  took  position  in  an  open 
field,  the  enemy  occupying  the  woods  in  front,  from 
which  they  had  a  short  time  before  driven  the  Second 
Division,  within  rifle  range.  "  Their  fire  of  musketry 
and  artillery  was  very  heavy.  The  position  was  held 
for  more  than  three  hours,  and  until  the  Eighth  Corps, 
under  Major  General  Crook,  were  seen  nearly  a  mile 
to  the  right,  charging  upon  the  enemy.  Then  Colonel 
Thomas,  without  waiting  for  orders,  moved  forward- 
with  the  Eighth,  and  Twelfth  Connecticut,  at  double- 
quick,  charging  and  driving  the  enemy  from  the 
woods.  After  passing  through  the  woods,  the  regi 
ment  halted,  and  was  rejoined  by  Companies  D,  F, 


GREAT   REBELLION.  203 

and  K.  The  enemy  were  in  force  about  four  hundred 
yards  to  the  left,  behind  a  rail-fence,  and  the  regiment 
wheeled  to  the  left,  firing  deadly  volleys  upon  them, 
and  they  soon  took  to  flight.  The  residue  of  the  Bri 
gade  came  up,  and  the  Eighth  Regiment,  with  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixtieth  New  York,  charged  and  drove 
the  enemy  from  behind  a  stone  wall.  The  pursuit 
continued  until  dark,  when  the  regiment  bivouacked, 
receiving  the  congratulations  of  Major  General  Mc 
Millan  and  Colonel  Thomas  for  their  gallant  conduct. 
The  loss  during  the  day  was  eight  killed  and  thirty 
wounded.  Among  the  wounded  was  Lieutenant  Colo 
nel  Henry  F.  Button,  who  was  wounded  early  in  the 
action." 

The  Eighth  was  with  its  brigade,  engaged  in  the  pur 
suit  of  the  enemy,  from  the  20th  to  the  25th,  and 
encamped  at  Harrisburg,  having  been  engaged  in 
charges  and  skirmishes  nearly  every  day  from  the  19th 
to  the  26th  of  September. 

On  the  6th  of  October  the  regiment  moved  from 
Harrisburg,  and  arrived  at  Cedar  Creek  on  the  10th, 
where  they  encamped  and  fortified,  and  on  the  19th 
was  again  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy  in  the  battle 
of  Cedar  Creek.  During  this  engagement  Colonel 
Thomas  was  in  command  of  the  brigade,  and  the  com 
mand  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Major  John  B. 
Mead,  who  was  wounded  in  the  early  part  of  the  bat- 


204  VERMONT   IN    THE 

tie,  and  was  succeeded  by  Captain  McFarland.  The 
loss  during  the  day  was  one  officer,  Lieutenant  Cooper, 
killed,  and  twelve  officers  wounded;  Captain  Hall, 
of  Co.  E,  and  Lieutenant  Cheney,  of  Co.  K,  mortally ; 
and  fourteen .  enlisted  men  killed,  and  ninety-five 
wounded  or  taken  prisoners. 

The  regiment  returned  to  Cedar  Creek,  and  on  the 
10th  of  November  marched  to  Newtown,  Va. ;  thence 
to  Summit  Point,  where  they  remained  through  the 
winter,  performing  heavy  guard  and  picket  duty  on 
the  line  of  railroad  from  Charlestown  to  Winchester. 
On  the  20th  of  February,  1865,  a  detachment  of  the 
regiment,  while  cutting  .  timber,  were  attacked  by 
guerrillas,  and  eleven  men  captured.  They  were  soon 
paroled,  and  rejoined  the  regiment. 

On  the  21st  of  April  the  regiment  proceeded  by 
railroad  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  encamped  near 
Fort  Stevens,  where  they  remained  through  the  month 
of  May. 

On  the  1st  of  June  the  regiment  was  attached  to 
the  "  Vermont  Brigade,"  in  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  par 
ticipated  in, the  .review  of  the  Vermont  troops  by  the 
Governor,  of  the  State  on  the  7th,  and  also  in  the  re 
view  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  by  the  President,  on  the  8th 
of  June. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  the 
28th  .of  June,  and  left  Washington  for  Burlington, 
where  they  were  discharged  on  the  10th  of  July. 


GREAT  REBELLION.  205 

NINTH  REGIMENT. 

The  Ninth  Regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  on  the  9th  of  July,  1862.  It  was  suc 
cessively  commanded  by  Colonels  George  J.  Stannard, 
of  St.  Albans,  who  was  promoted  to  brigadier  gen 
eral,  March  11,  1863;  Dudley  K.  Andros,  of  Brad 
ford,  resigned  May  22,  1863;  and  Edward  H.  Ripley, 
of  Rutland,  mustered  out  of  service  June  13,  1865. 
Colonel  Ripley  was  breveted  brigadier  general,  Au 
gust  1,  1864. 

The  regiment  was  in  the  following  engagements :  — 

Harper's  Ferry,  September  13  and  16, 1862. 

Newport  Barracks,  February  2,  1864. 

Chapin's  Farm,  September  29,  1864. 

Fair  Oaks,  October  27,  1864. 

The  Ninth  Regiment  left  the  State  on  the  15th  of 
July,  1862,  with  nine  hundred  and  twenty  officers  and 
men.  It  proceeded  to  Washington,  and  thence  to 
Winchester,  Va.,  and  was  engaged  in  constructing 
fortifications.  The  regiment  was  captured  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  on  the  15th  of  September,  1862,  when  that  post 
was  surrendered,  was  paroled,  and  sent  to  Chicago, 
where  it  remained  in  parole  camp  until  January  10, 
1863,  when  the  men  were  exchanged.  They  guarded 
rebel  prisoners  at  that  place  until  the  following  April, 


206  VERMONT   IK   THE 

when  it  was  removed  to  Fortress  Monroe,  thence  to 
Suffolk,  Va.,  West  Point,  Va.,  and  Yorktown,  Va., 
remaining  there  until  the  24th  of  October,  1863,  when 
they  sailed  for  Newbern,  IN".  C. 

The  regiment  had  become  very  much  reduced  in 
numbers  by  desertions,  the  men  being  dispirited  for 
want  of  active  duty,  enlistments  in  the  regular  army, 
and  malarial  diseases. 

They  arrived  at  Newbern  on  the  29th  of  October, 
and  were  ordered  to  Newport  Barracks,  where  they 
performed  garrison  duty,  Colonel  Edward  H.  Ripley, 
of  the  Ninth  Regiment,  commanding  the  post. 

On  the  2d  of  December  the  regiment  met  with  a 
severe  loss  in  the  death  of  Charles  Jarvis,  of  Weathers- 
field,  who  had  been  promoted  to  major.  He  died  of 
wounds  received  in  a  skirmish,  while  endeavoring  to 
capture  a  rebel  party.  On  the  24th,  Colonel  Ripley, 
with  a  portion  of  his  men  and  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-eighth  New  York  regiment,  went  down  the  coast, 
destroyed  extensive  salt  works,  and  brought  in  a  number 
of  negroes. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1864,  the  regiment,  with 
other  troops,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Jourdan, 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-eighth  New  York  regi 
ment,  went  on  an  expedition  to  Onslow  County,  N.  C., 
and  returned  after  an  arduous  march  of  seventy-five 
miles,  having  captured  one  rebel  lieutenant  and  twenty- 
seven  privates,  with  much  valuable  property. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  207 

On  the  2d  of  February  the  enemy,  with  twenty-five 
hundred  infantry,  eight  to  twelve  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  four  hundred  cavalry,  made  an  attack  upon  the 
outposts  held  by  Companies  H  and  B,  Ninth  Regi 
ment.  At  that  time  the  recruits,  who  had  recently 
joined  the  regiment,  were  without  arms,  and  the  regi 
ment  numbered  less  than  two  hundred  muskets.  The 
recruits  were  soon  armed,  and  hastily  instructed  how 
to  load,  and  with  pockets  filled  with  cartridges,  taken 
out  upon  the  skirmish  line,  which  was  the  only  line 
that,  from  the  open  nature  of  the  country  and  the  great 
superiority  of  the  enemy,  could  be  opposed  to  them. 
A  gallant  resistance  was  made,  and  the  position  held 
until  nearly  dark,  when  the  regiment  fell  back  over  the 
bridges,  and  burned  them  to  prevent  capture.  In  this 
movement  the  regiment  lost  two  lieutenants  and  sixty- 
four  men  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Most  of  the 
missing  were  new  recruits.  The  regiment  was  com 
manded  by  Captain  Kelley,  of  Company  B,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Barney  being  in  command  of  the  post,  and 
Colonel  Kipley  having  just  left  for  Fortress  Monroe 
with  prisoners  and  dispatches  to  General  Butler. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  Major  Amasa  Bartlett,  of 
Irasburg,  who  had  just  received  his  commission,  died. 
His  loss  was  severely  felt  in  the  regiment.  On  the 
26th  of  April,  Captain  Kelley,  with  twenty  men,  cap 
tured  a  fishing  party  of  six  men,  sent  out  by  the  rebel 


208  VERMONT   IN    THE 

commissary  department,  and  destroyed  valuable  prop 
erty.  On  the  29th,  with  forty  men,  he  dashed  into 
Swansboro',  capturing  a  rebel  lieutenant  and  sixteen 
men,  with  horses,  arms,  and  a  large  quantity  of  gov 
ernment  stores. 

On  the  llth  of  July  the  regiment  moved  to  New- 
bern,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  various  out 
posts.  On  the  31st  of  August  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  arriving  there  on  the 
15th  of  September,  and  was  attached  to  the  First  Bri 
gade,  Second  Division,  of  the  Eighteenth  Army  Corps. 
They  were  joined  on  the  17th  by  one  hundred  and 
seventy  recruits,  making  the  effective  strength  of  the 
regiment  about  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five. 

On  the  29th  of  September  the  regiment  left  their 
camp,  crossed  the  James  River,  and  marched  to  Cha- 
pin's  Farm.  The  Eighth  Maine,  and  Ninth  Vermont 
Regiments  were  ordered  to  charge  one  of  the  enemy's 
works.  The  Maine  regiment  became  entangled  in  a 
swamp,  and  the  Ninth  Vermont  charged  alone,  over 
uneven  ground,  covered  with  fallen  timber  and  under 
brush,  carried  the  works,  capturing  two  guns  and  over 
fifty  prisoners,  and  driving  the  enemy  from  a  line  of 
rifle-pits  connecting  the  captured  fort  with  the  works. 
The  regiment  was  under  fire  the  entire  day,  and  every 
man  behaved  with  great  gallantry.  The  casualties  in 
the  regiment  on  this  occasion  were  seven  killed,  thirty- 
eight  wounded,  and  thirteen  missing. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  209 

Early  in  November  the  regiment  was  sent  to  New 
York  City,  to  assist  in  preserving  order  during  the 
Presidential  election,  and  were  highly  complimented 
for  their  good  discipline  amid  the  temptations  of  the 
city.  They  rejoined  their  Brigade  on  the  17th.  In 
December  the  regiment  was  attached  to  the  Second 
Brigade,  Third  Division,  of  the  Twenty -fourth  Corps. 

A  general  order  was  issued  from  Corps  Headquarters, 
dated  January  17,  1865,  providing  for  an  inspection,  at 
stated  times,  of  the  regiments  in  each  brigade,  with  a 
view  of  determining  which  was  the  best  regiment  in 
the  brigade ;  and  then  an  inspection  of  the  regiments, 
thus  ascertained  to  be  the  best  in  each  brigade,  by  the 
General  commanding  the  Division,  for  the  purpose  of  de 
termining  which  was  the  best  regiment  in  the  Division. 
The  Ninth  Regiment  entered  into  this  competition 
with  great  spirit  and  determination,  and  by  the  perfec 
tion  of  their  drill  and  discipline  gained  the  post  of 
honor  in  the  Division,  and  the  fact  was  announced 
at  Division  Headquarters.  The  Divison  consisted  of 
twenty  regiments.  The  officers  and  men  were  justly 
proud  of  the  distinction  thus  attained.  When  each  of 
these  complimentary  orders  were  issued,  the  regiment 
was  excused  from  all  picket  and  outside  details  for  one 
week.  Before  the  period  had  terminated  during  which 
they  had  been  excused  from  details,  the  men  of  the 
regiment  made  application  to  be  allowed  to  go  again 


210  VERMONT   IN    THE 

upon  duty,  to  relieve  their  comrades  of  the  brigade, 
whose  duties  were  rendered  extremely  arduous  by  the 
excusing  of  this  regiment  from  details.  This  noble 
conduct  called  forth  another  complimentary  order  from 
Division  Headquarters. 

The  Ninth  Regiment  was  among  the  first  to  enter 
Richmond  after  its  evacuation  by  the  rebels,  and  was 
stationed  there  until  mustered  out.  The  original  mem 
bers  of  the  regiment,  and  the  recruits  whose  terms  of 
service  were  to  expire  previous  to  the  1st  of  October, 
were  mustered  out  on  the  13th  of  June.  The  remain 
ing  members  of  the  regiment  were  consolidated  into 
a  battalion  of  four  companies,  which  remained  in  Vir 
ginia,  performing  ordinary  camp,  guard,  and  provost 
duty,  until  the  1st  day  of  December,  1865,  when  they 
were  mustered  out  of  service,  with  twelve  commissioned 
officers  and  three  hundred  and  two  enlisted  men. 

TENTH  REGIMENT. 

The  Tenth  Regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  on  the  1st  day  of  September,  1862,  and 
left  the  State  on  the  6th,  with  ten  hundred  and  sixteen 
officers  and  men.  It  was  successively  command  by 
Colonels  Albert  B.  Jewett,  of  Swanton,  who  resigned 
April  25,  1864;  William  W.  Henry,  of  Waterbury, 
who  was  wounded  in  May,  1864,  resigned  December 
17,  1864,  brevet  brigadier  general,  March  7,  1865; 


GREAT   REBELLION. 


211 


George  B.  Damon,  of  Newbury,  who  was  mustered 
out  of  service  after  his  regiment,  as  lieutenant  colonel, 
June  28,  1865. 

This  regiment  participated  in  the  following  engage 
ments,  in  all  of  which  the  officers  and  men  behaved 
with  great  gallantry,  and  fully  sustained  the  credit  of 
Vermont :  — - 


Orange  Grove, 
Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania, 
Tolopotomy, 
Cold  Harbor, 
Weldon  Railroad, 
Monocacy, 
Winchester, 
Fisher's  Hill, 
Cedar  Creek, 
Petersburg, 
Petersburg, 
Sailor's  Creek, 


November  27,  1863. 
May  5  to  10,  1864. 
May  10  to  18,  1864. 
May  31, 1864. 
June  1  to  12,  1864. 
June  22  and  23,  1864. 
July  9,  1864. 
September  19,  1864. 
September  21  and  22,  1864. 
October  19,  1864. 
March  25,  1865. 
April  2,  1865. 
April  6,  1865. 


This  regiment  was  brigaded  with  the  Thirty-ninth 
Massachusetts,  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire,  and 
the  Twenty-third  Maine  regiments,  and  was,  during 
the  first  year  of  its  service,  stationed  on  the  Upper 
Potomac,  near  Poolsville,  performing  picket  duty. 
During  the  invasion  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania 


212  VEKMONT   IN    THE 

by  the  rebels,  the  Tenth  Regiment  was'  attached  to 
the  Array  of  the  Potomac,  and  formed  a  part  of  the 
Third  Army  Corps.  When  that  corps  was  broken  up 
it  was  attached  to  the  First  Brigade,  Third  Division, 
of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps,  and  with  it  participated  in 
the  engagement  at  Orange  Grove,  on  the  advance  to 
Mine  Run.  They  charged  and  drove  the  enemy  in 
great  confusion  from  a  crest  which  they  occupied,  and 
which  was  held  by  the  Tenth  Regiment  until  after 
sunset,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  artillery  and  infantry 
at  short  range.  The  officers  and  men  were  highly 
commended  for  their  good  conduct  on  this  occasion. 
The  regiment  lost  nine  killed,  fifty-eight  wounded, 
and  Captain  Dillingham,  of  Company  B,  was  taken 
prisoner. 

On  the  4th  of  May,  1864,  the  regiment  crossed  the 
Rapidan  with  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  were  under  fire 
nearly  every  day  until  the  18th.  Its  loss  during  this 
time  was  four  killed  and  twenty-three  wounded. 

On  the  1st  and  3d  of  June  the  regiment  was  active 
ly  engaged  near  Cold  Harbor,  and  suffered  severely. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Henry,  who  was  in  command,  was 
wounded  on  the  1st,  and  was  succeeded  by  Major 
Charles  G.  Chandler.  Lieutenants  Ezra  Stetson  and 
Charles  G.  Newton,  both  valuable  officers,  were  killed 
in  the  same  action.  On  the  3d,  Captain  Edwin  B. 
Frost  was  killed.  His  was  a  severe  loss  to  the  regi- 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  213 

ment.  On  the  6th,  Captain  Samuel  Darrah,  an  intelli 
gent  and  highly  valued  officer,  was  killed  in  front  of 
regimental  headquarters  by  a  rebel  sharpshooter.  In 
all  these  engagements  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Tenth  Regiment  behaved  with  great  coolness  and 
courage.  The  casualties  were  twenty-seven  killed,  one 
hundred  and  forty-seven  wounded,  and  six  missing. 
.  On  the  9th  of  July  this  regiment  was  in  the  battle 
of  Monocacy  Junction,  and  lost  four  men  killed,  twen 
ty-six  wounded,  and  thirty-two  missing.  They  subse 
quently  were  joined  to  General  Sheridan's  army  in 
the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  and  were  in  the  battle 
of  Opequan  Creek,  near  Winchester,  on  the  19th  of 
September,  behaving  well,  and  losing  thirteen  killed 
and  sixty  wounded.  Major  Edwin  Dillingham,  a 
young,  patriotic,  and  brave  officer,  was  among  the 
killed. 

;  On  the  19th  of  October  the  Tenth  Regiment  was 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek.  The  rebels 
had  captured  three  of  our  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a 
charge  was  ordered  by  this  regiment;  and,  with  the 
colors  in  front,  they  advanced  with  alacrity,  charged 
up  to  the  guns,  and  recovered  them.  Sergeant  William 
Mahoney,  of  Company  E,  color-bearer  of  the  regiment, 
was  the  first  to  reach  the  guns,  and  planted  the  colors 
upon  one  of  them.  The  rebels  retired  in  great  con 
fusion.  In  this  engagement  the  casualties  in  the  regi- 


214  VEKMONT   IN   THE 

raent  were  fourteen  killed,  sixty-six  wounded,  and 
five  missing,  being  nearly  one  third  of  the  entire  regi 
ment.  Among  the  killed  were  Captain  Lucian  D. 
Thompson  and  Color-Sergeant  Mahoney. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1865,  this  regiment  was  en 
gaged  near  Fort  Fisher,  charged  upon  and  captured 
the  works  of  the  enemy.  They  took  one  hundred  and 
sixty  prisoners,  including  several  commissioned  officers. 
In  this  action  the  regiment  lost  two  men  killed  and 
four  wounded. 

On  the  2d  of  April  the  Brigade,  of  which  the  Tenth 
Regiment  formed  a  part,  made  another  charge  upon  the 
works  of  the  enemy,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  them, 
with  many  prisoners  and  several  guns.  The  com 
manding  officer  of  the  brigade,  in  his  official  report, 
said,  "  the  first  colors  inside  the  works  were  those  of 
the  Tenth  Vermont."  The  casualties  in  the  regiment 
during  the  day  were  three  killed,  forty-one  wounded, 
and  four  captured.  Adjutant  James  M.  Read  was 
mortally  wounded,  and  died  four  days  after.  He  was 
a  very  promising  young  officer. 

From  Petersburg  the  regiment  marched  with  the 
Sixth  Corps  to  Sailor's  Creek,  where  it  was  again  en 
gaged  with  the  enemy  on  the  6th  of  April,  taking  part 
in  the  decisive  flank  movement  which  closed  the  ac 
tion.  The  regiment  then  marched  to  Appomattox 
Court  House,  where  the  rebel  army  surrendered  on 


GEE  AT   REBELLION.  215 

the  9th  of  April.  On  the  23d  they  started  for  Dan 
ville,  Va.,  and  marched  thence,  a  distance  of  over  one 
hundred  miles,  in  four  days  and  four  hours.  They  re 
mained  at  Danville  about  three  weeks,  and  then 
moved  by  way  of  Richmond  to  Washington,  D.  C., 
where  they  arrived  about  the  1st  of  June,  went  into 
camp  near  Ball's  Cross  Roads,  and  remained  there  until 
mustered  out  of  service,  June  22,  1865. 

ELEVENTH  REGIMENT. 

The  Eleventh  Regiment  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  on  the  1st  day  of  September, 
1862,  and  left  the  State  on  the  7th,  with  ten  hundred 
and  eighteen  officers  and  men.  The  regiment  was  suc 
cessively  commanded  by  James  M.  Warner,  who  was 
made  Brevet  Brigadier  General  for  gallantry  at  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House,  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill,  and 
Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  to  date  from  August  1,  1864;  pro 
moted  to  Brigadier  General,  May  8, 1865  ;  and  Charles 
Hunsden,  of  Stoneham,  who  was  mustered  out  June 
24,  1865. 

By  an  order  from  the  War  Department,  this  regi 
ment  was  changed  from  infantry  to  heavy  artillery, 
and  was  stationed  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  occupying 
Forts  Slocum,  Totten,  and  Stevens.  On  the  15th  of 
May  they  joined  the  "  Vermont  Brigade,"  after  which 
its  history  is  given  with  that  organization. 


216  VERMONT  IN  THE 

SECOND  VERMONT  BRIGADE. 

This  Brigade  was  composed  of  the  Twelfth,  Thir 
teenth,  Fourteenth,  Fifteenth,  and  Sixteenth  Regi 
ments —  all  enlisted  for  nine  months. 

The  Twelfth  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Asa  P. 
Blunt,  of  St.  Johnsbury;  the  Thirteenth  by  Francis 
V.  Randall,  of  Montpelier ;  the  Fourteenth  by  William 
T.  Nichols,  of  Rutland;  the  Fifteenth  by  Redfield 
Proctor,  of  Cavendish ;  the  Sixteenth  by  Wheelock  G. 
Veazey,  of  Springfield. 

These  regiments  were  brigaded  together  during  their 
entire  term  of  service.  The  Brigade  was  successively 
commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Edwin  H.  Stough- 
ton,  who  was  surprised  and  captured  by  the  enemy ; 
Colonel  Asa  P.  Blunt,  of  the  Twelfth  Regiment,  until 
April,  1863,  when  Brigadier  General  George  J.  Stan- 
nard  was  assigned  to  its  command,  and  so  continued 
to  the  end  of  its  term  of  service.  The  Brigade  was 
stationed  near  Washington,  performing  picket  duty, 
until  June  25,  1863,  when  it  was  ordered  to  report  to 
General  Reynolds,  commanding  the  First  Army  Corps, 
and  joined  the  Corps  at  Gettysburg  on  the  evening  of 
July  1st,  after  a  march  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  miles,  in  seven  days,  during  much  of  the  time 
through  a  heavy  rain. 


GREAT  REBELLION.  217 


BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1863,  the  rebel 
leaders  proclaimed  their  intention  of  invading  the 
North,  and  thus  retaliate  for  the  devastation  occa 
sioned  by  the  war  in  Virginia  and  other  States  claimed 
by  them  as  belonging  to  the  Confederacy.  They  made 
no  attempt  at  secrecy.  Their  plan,  as  understood, 
was.  to  overwhelm  Hooker's  army,  capture  Washing 
ton,  and  make  a  grand  raid  into  Pennsylvania,  or  some 
other  fruitful  and  inviting  section  of  the  North,  and 
carry  away  such  horses,  cattle,  and  supplies  of  all  kinds 
as  they  needed,  and  destroy  all  else  of  value  that  fell 
in  their  way.  General  Hooker  was  aware  of  the  pro 
gramme  agreed  upon  by  the  enemy,  and  was  on  the 
alert  to  meet  him.  Under  his  orders,  General  Pleasan- 
ton,  with  a  cavalry  force,  made  an  attack  upon  Gen 
eral  Stewart  at  Beverly  Ford,  captured  his  private 
papers,  and  compelled  him  to  fall  back  and  abandon  his 
intention  of  harassing  and  diverting  Hooker's  advance. 
Among  the  captured  papers  was  found  a  General  Order 
for  an  advance  into  Pennsylvania. 

To  meet  the  threatened  advance,  General  Hooker 
put  his  army  in  rapid  motion.  His  troops  were  so  dis 
posed  as  to  protect  Washington,  and  also  to  give  the 
enemy  battle  should  he  invade  the  Northern  States  at 
any  point.  No  one  knew  precisely  where  the  rebels 


218  VEBMONT   IN   THE 

would  strike.  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  New  Jersey, 
and  New  York  were  appealed  to,  and  urged  to  rally 
for  the  protection  of  their  respective  borders,  and  they 
promptly  and  nobly  answered  the  call.  The  last  week 
of  June  was  one  of  great  anxiety  and  doubt.  It  was 
known  that  the  rebel  army,  ninety-thousand  strong, 
was  making  an  advance  upon  the  North,  and  must  be 
met  by  an  equal  or  superior  force.  It  soon  became 
apparent  that  the  enemy  was  concentrating  a  very 
large  force  near  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  on  Monday  night, 
the  29th  of  June,  the  troops  under  the  rebel  Generals 
Hill,  Longstreet,  and  Ewell  were  encamped  on  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  mountain,  in  full  view  of  that 
place. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  General  Meade  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  Union  army.  He  concentrated,  as  rap 
idly  as  possible,  the  troops  under  Generals  Buford, 
Reynolds,  and  Howard,  and  they  took  positions  on 
the  south  side,  and  near  to  the  town,  on  the  night  of 
the  29th.  A  desperate  battle  was  imminent.  On 
the  morning  of  Wednesday,  July  1,  General  Buford 
was  ordered  to  advance  with  his  cavalry  and  oc 
cupy  the  town.  He  was  met  by  the  enemy,  who  im 
mediately  opened  fire  upon  him ;  hearing  which,  Gen 
eral  Reynolds,  with  the  First  Corps,  of  eight  thousand 
men,  weary  with  marching,  dashed  into  and  through 
the  town,  and  commenced  a  vigorous  attack  upon 


GREAT    REBELLION.  219 

twenty  thousand  fresh  troops,  which  was  met  with 
equal  vigor  by  the  enemy.  General  Reynolds  took  a 
position,  and  not  only  stubbornly  held  it,  but  drove 
back  the  foe  whenever  they  made  a  charge  upon  his 
lines.  The  rebels  were  re-enforced  from  time  to  time, 
until  they  numbered  full  forty  thousand,  while  our 
own  forces  on  the  field  were  less  than  half  that  num 
ber.  The  brave  General  Reynolds  was  killed  in  the 
early  part  of  the  day.  The  contest  raged  furiously 
until  near  night,  when  it  became  evident  that  our 
troops  could  not  much  longer  withstand  the  terrtble 
fire  of  a  foe-  so  greatly  superior  in  numbers,  and  a  re 
treat  was  ordered. 

Our  men  were  driven  back  through  the  town  by  the 
howling  and  excited  rebels,  who  took  twenty-two 
hundred  prisoners.  Suddenly  the  artillery  opened 
from  a  hill  at  the  south,  and  checked  and  drove  back 
the  enemy. 

The  battle  throughout  the  day,  in  every  part  of  the 
field,  had  been  among  the  fiercest  and  most  terrible  of 
the  war.  .The  fire  on  both  sides  was  more  terrific  than 
veterans  had  ever  seen  before.  One  brigade  of  west 
ern  troops,  which,  in  the  morning,  numbered  eighteen 
hundred  and  twenty,  reached  Cemetery  Hill  at  night 
with  but  seven  hundred  men.  Another  brigade 
by  its  side  went  in  with  fifteen  hundred  men  at 
noon,  and  came  out  at  night  having  lost  thirteen 


220  VERMONT    IN    THE 

hundred  and  thirty-three  privates,  and  fifty-four  officers. 
This  was  carnage  such  as  had  not  been  witnessed  upon 
any  other  field.  The  disparity  in  numbers  was  too 
great,  and  the  Unionists  were  forced  to  yield  the 
ground.  Gettysburg  was  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
and  all  looked  gloomy  for  the  loyalists.  The  loss  on 
both  sides  had  been  terrible,  and  the  instances  of  bra 
very  and  daring  by  officers  and  men  were  almost  with 
out  number. 

Both  armies  passed  the  night  in  preparation  for 
ther  morrow.  Our  men  must  be  re-enforced,  or  they 
were  lost.  They  went  into  the  battle  with  less  than 
half  the  number  of  the  enemy,  had  suffered  much 
more  than  he,  and  what  remained  were  weary  and 
disheartened.  The  rebels  were  exultant,  and  looked 
for  an  easy  and  decisive  victory.  Before  midnight 
our  men  were  cheered  by  the  arrival  of  the  Twelfth 
Corps,  under  General  Slocum,  and  the  Third,  under 
General  Sickles;  and  shortly  after  daylight  on  the 
2d,  came  the  Second  and  Fifth  Corps.  These  acces 
sions  of  strong  men,  and  General  Meade,  with  his 
confident  bearing,  to  command  the  whole,  inspired 
the  men  who  had  fought  so  nobly  the  day  before, 
with  new  life  and  courage.  All  our  troops  were 
carefully  and  properly  disposed,  and  ready  for  ac 
tion.  The  rebels  were  not  so  exultant  as  the  night 
before. 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  221 

It  was  not  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of 
Thursday,  July  2,  that  the  enemy  commenced  the 
attack.  Then  followed  such  a  battle  as  had  not  before 
been  recorded  in  history.  Volley  succeeded  volley, 
and  charge  followed  charge.  The  gallantry  displayed 
by  men  on  both  sides  was  unprecedented,  and  the 
slaughter  terrible  to  contemplate  or  remember.  The 
strife  continued  until  night,  without  a  decisive  victory 
for  either  army.  The  rebels  left  the  contest  with  their 
confidence  considerably  shaken,  while  our  army  felt 
strong  in  the  rectitude  of  their  cause.  The  night  was 
spent  by  the  men  in  needed  rest,  and  by  officers  on 
both  sides  preparing  for  a  renewal  of  the  contest  the 
next  day. 

At  early  dawn  on  Friday  morning,  the  3d  of  July, 
our  guns  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy.  The  battle 
continued  from  this  time  until  eleven  o'clock,  when  it 
entirely  ceased  until  half  past  one.  In  the  afternoon 
General  Lee,  who  had  been  in  command  from  the 
commencement  of  the  battle,  determined  to  make  one 
more  desperate  attempt  upon  our  left  center,  which 
was  held  by  General  Hancock.  He  made  the  attack 
with  a  heavy  force,  which  was  nobly  met  and  splendid 
ly  repulsed.  In  speaking  of  it,  Abbott,  in  his  "  History 
of  the  Civil  War,"  says,  "  So  fiercely  they  stormed  the 
hill  that  the  patriot  General  Gibbons  was  obliged  to 
order  his  own  men  back  to  make  room  for  the  fatal 


222  VERMONT   IN    THE 

grape.  Volley  after  volley  he  poured  into  the  surging 
mass ;  and,  when  the  smoke  cleared  away,  the  brave 
charging  lines  were  gone,  not  broken,  not  retreating, 
but  gone  —  gone  like  leaves  before  the  wind." 

In  this  last  day's  battle  our  troops  completely  de 
feated  and  routed  the  enemy,  captured  six  thousand 
and  five  hundred  prisoners,  their  battery,  and  five 
thousand  stand  of  arms.  Before  the  next  morning 
General  Lee  and  his  whole  army  had  made  good  their 
retreat. 

During  the  second  day  of  the  battle  a  battery  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  rebels.  The  gunners  had  all 
been  killed  or  fled.  General  Hancock  had  been  unable 
to  rally  its  supporters.  He  rode  up  to  Colonel  Randall, 
of  the  Thirteenth  Vermont  Regiment,  whose  horse  had 
just  been  shot  under  him,  and  who  was  on  foot  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment,  and  asked  him  if  he  could  retake 
that  battery.  "  We  can.  Forward,  boys ! "  was  Col 
onel  Randall's  reply.'  He  retook  the  battery,  sent  the 
guns  to  the  rear,  and  advanced  half  a  mile  further  to 
the  front,  and  captured  two  twelve-pound  brass  guns. 

The  great  feature  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was 
the  charge  of  Pickett's  Division,  so  called.  It  was 
made,  according  to  the  best  authority,  with  two  whole 
divisions,  and  parts  of  others — in  all  about  seventeen 
thousand  men.  It  commenced  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
third  day,  with  a  cannonade  from  about  one  hundred 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  223 

field-pieces,  which  were  replied  to  by  eighty  guns 
from  the  Union  forces.  So  heavy  was  the  firing  that 
it  was  heard  distinctly  at  Greensjboro',  Pa.,  a  distance, 
in  a  direct  line,  of  one  hundred  and  forty-three  miles. 
The  cannonading  ceased,  and  then  followed  the  grand 
charge. 

The  main  body  of  the  rebels  were  formed  in  two 
lines,  with  a  front  of  about  three  hundred  rods.  The 
ground  selected  was  an  open  meadow  at  the  left  of 
Cemetery  Hill,  on  either  side  of  which,  on  slightly 
elevated  ground,  were  posted  the  opposing  armies. 
The  enemy  advanced  steadily,  preceded  by  their  skir 
mishers.  The  Vermont  Brigade  occupied  an  advanced 
position,  and  were  ordered  by  General  Stannard  into 
line.  The  enemy's  right  seemed  to  be  aiming  directly 
upon  the  Fourteenth  Regiment.  Seeing  which,  Gen 
eral  Stannard  sent  an  order  to  Colonel  Nichols  to  hold 
his  fire  until  the  rebels  were  close  upon  him,  then  to 
pour  in  a  volley,  and  after  that  give  them  the  bayonet. 
The  rebel  force  suddenly  charged,  and  marched  across 
the  front  of  the  Brigade,  about  sixty  rods,  and  again 
came  upon  the  line  of  the  Second  Corps,  at  about 
eighty  rods  distance.  The  Fourteenth  Regiment 
opened  fire  by  battalion,  and  continued  by  files,  and 
was  soon  joined  by  the  Thirteenth,  and,  as  a  writer 
who  was  upon  the  ground  says,  "A  line  of  dead  rebels 
at  the  close  showed  distinctly  where  they  marched 
across  the  front  of  the  Vermont  Second  Brigade." 


224  VERMONT   IN   THE 

As  the  enemy  pressed  forward,  General  Stannard 
ordered  the  Thirteenth  and  Sixteenth  Regiments  to 
attack  his  flank.  They  moved  up  promptly  to  within 
half  pistol  range,  and  opened  fire  upon  the  column  of 
the  enemy,  advancing  after  every  volley.  At  this  short 
range,  the  same  writer  says,  "  The  Thirteenth  fired  ten 
or  fifteen  rounds,  and  the  Sixteenth  probably  half  that 
number,  into  a  mass  of  men  on  which  every  bullet  took 
effect,  and  many  doubtless  found  two  or  three  victims. 
The  effect  upon  the  rebel  lines  was  instantaneous. 
Their  progress  ceased  close  upon  the  low  breastworks 
of  the  Second  Corps.  For  a  moment  they  crowded 
together  in  bewilderment,  falling  like  wheat  before  the 
reaper ;  then,  breaking  into  a  disorderly  mob,  they  fled 
in  all  directions.  The  larger  portion,  on  their  right 
arid  center,  dropped  their  arms,  and  rushed  within 
our  lines  as  prisoners." 

The  rebel  brigade  which  formed  the  support  of  Pick- 
ett's  division  on  his  right,  was  now  advancing  across 
the  open  field  directly  upon  the  position  of  the  Four 
teenth  Regiment.  The  batteries  and  the  Fourteenth 
gave  them  a  hot  fire  in  front,  while  the  Sixteenth 
was  ordered  to  attack  the  flank.  The  rebel  force  was 
brought  nearly  to  a  halt  by  the  fire  in  front.  At  this 
stage  Colonel  Veazey,  of  the  Sixteenth,  requested  per 
mission  of  General  Stannard  to  make  a  charge,  which 
was  granted,  and  the  Sixteenth,  without  firing  a  gun, 


GEEAT   EEBELLION.  225 

rushed  upon  the  enemy's  flanks  with  bayonets.  "  The 
movement  was  so  sudden  that  the  rebel  commander 
could  effect  no  change  of  front  to  meet  it,  and  the  Six 
teenth  swept  down  the  line  of  three  regiments,  taking 
their  colors,  and  scooping  them  in  a  body  into  our  lines." 

The  following  is  a  portion  of  the  report  of  Briga 
dier  General  Stannard,  commanding  the  Second  Ver 
mont  Brigade,  dated  "In  front  of  Gettysburg,  July 
4,  1863":  — 

"We  reached  the  battle-ground  too  late  in  the  day 
to  take  part  in  the  severely  contested  battle  of  July  1, 
and  my  tired  troops  upon  their  arrival  took  position  in 
rear  of  the  line  of  battle  of  the  First  Corps. 

"  Before  reaching  the  ground,  the  Twelfth  and  Fif 
teenth  Regiments  were  detached,  by  order  of  General 
Reynolds,  as  a  guard  to  the  Corps  wagon  train  in  the 
rear.  The  Fifteenth  rejoined  the  Brigade  next  morn 
ing,  but  was  again  ordered  back  for  the  same  duty, 
about  noon  of  that  day.  After  the  opening* of  the 
battle  on  the  2d,  the  left  wing  of  the  Thirteenth  Regi 
ment,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Munson,  was  ordered 
forward,  as  support  to  a  battery,  and  a  company  of  the 
Sixteenth  was  sent  out  as  support  to  the  skirmishers 
in  our  front.  While  stationing  them,  Captain  A.  G. 
Foster,  Assistant  Inspector  General  of  my  staff,  was 
seriously  wounded  by  a  ball  through  both  legs,  de 
priving  me  of  his  valuable  services  for  the  remainder 


226  VERMONT   IN   THE 

of  the  battle.  Just  before  dark  of  the  same  day,  our 
army  line  on  the  left  of  the  center  having  become 
broken,  under  a  desperate  charge  of  the  enemy,  my 
Brigade  was  ordered  up.  The  right  wing  of  the  Thir 
teenth  Regiment,  under  command  of  Colonel  Randall, 
was  in  the  advance,  and  upon  reaching  the  breach  in 
the  line,  was  granted  by  General  Hancock,  commanding 
upon  the  spot,  the  privilege  of  making  an  effort  to  re 
take  the  guns  of  Company  C,  Regular  Battery,  which 
had  just  been  captured  by  the  enemy. 

"  This  they  performed  in  a  gallant  charge,  in  which 
Colonel  Randall's  horse  was  shot  under  him.  Four 
guns  of  the  battery  were  retaken,  and  two  rebel  field- 
pieces,  with  about  eighty  prisoners,  were  captured  by 
five  companies  of  the  Thirteenth,  in  this  single  charge. 
The  front  line,  thus  reestablished,  was  held  by  this 
Brigade  for  twenty-six  hours.  At  about  two  o'clock 
of  the  3d  instant  the  enemy  commenced  a  vigorous 
attack  upon  our  position.  After  subjecting  us,  for  an 
hour  and  a  half,  to  the  severest  cannonade  of  the  whole 
battle,  from  nearly  one  hundred  guns,  the  enemy 
charged  with  a  heavy  column  of  infantry.  The  charge 
was  aimed  directly  upon  my  command,  but  owing 
apparently  to  the  firm  front  shown  them,  the  enemy 
diverged  midway,  and  came  upon  the  line  on  my  right. 
But  they  did  not  thus  escape  the  warm  reception  pre 
pared  for  them  by  the  Vermonters.  As  soon  as  the 


GREAT    REBELLION.  227 

change  of  the  point  of  attack  became  evident,  I  ordered 
a  flank  attack  upon  the  enemy's  column.  Forming  in 
the  open  meadow  in  front  of  my  line,  the  Thirteenth 
and  Sixteeth  Regiments  marched  down  in  column,  by 
the  flank,  changed  front  forward,  at  right  angles  to  the 
main  line  of  battle  of  the  army,  bringing  them  in  line 
of  battle  upon  the  flank  of  the  charging  column  of  the 
enemy,  and  opened  a  destructive  fire  at  short  range, 
which  the  enemy  sustained  but  a  very  few  minutes 
before  the  larger  portion  of  them  surrendered  and 
marched  in,  not  as  conquerors,  but  as  captives.  They 
had  hardly  dropped  their  arms  before  another  rebel 
column  appeared,  charging  upon  our  left.  Colonel 
Veazey,  of  the  Sixteenth,  was  at  once  ordered  back  to 
take  it,  in  its  turn,  upon  the  flank.  This  was  done,  as 
successfully  as  before.  The  rebel  force  already  deci 
mated  by  the  fire  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  was 
scooped,  almost  en  masse,  into  our  lines.  The  Six 
teenth  took,  in  this  charge,  the  regimental  colors  of  the 
Second  Florida  and  Eighth  Virginia  regiments,  and 
the  battle-flag  of  another  rebel  regiment. 

"  The  Sixteenth  was  supported  for  a  time,  in  the 
now  advanced  position  it  occupied  after  the  charge,  by 
four  companies  of  the  Fourteenth,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Rose. 

"The  movements  I  have  described  were  executed 
in  the  open  field,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  shell,  grape, 


228  VEEMONT   IN    THE 

and  musketry,  and  they  were  performed  with  the 
promptness  and  precision  of  battalion  drill.  They 
ended  the  contest  on  the  center,  and  substantially 
closed  the  battle. 

"  Officers  and  men  behaved  like  veterans,  although 
it  was,  for  most  of  them,  their  first  battle,  and  I  am 
content  to  leave  it  to  the  witnesses  of  the  fight,  whether 
or  no  they  sustained  the  credit  of  the  service,  and  the 
honor  of  our  Green  Mountain  State. 

"  That  their  efforts  were  approved  by  the  Division 
General,  is  shown  by  the  General  Order  appended  to 
this  report. 

"The  members  of  my  staff,  Captain  William  H. 
Hill,  Assistant  Adjutant  General;  Lieutenant  G.  W. 
Hooker,  and  Lieutenant  G.  G.  Benedict,  Aid-de-Camp; 
Lieutenant  Clark,  Provost  Marshal,  and  Lieutenant  S. 
F.  Prentiss,  Ordnance  Officer,  executed  all  orders  with 
the  utmost  promptness,  and  their  coolness  under  fire, 
and  good  example,  contributed  essentially  to  the  suc 
cess  of  the  day." 

On  the  4th  of  July  Major  General  Doubleday  issued 
the  following  General  Order :  — 

"  The  Major  General  commanding  the  Division  de 
sires  to  return  his  thanks  to  the  Vermont  Second 
Brigade,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  the  Twentieth  regiment 
New  York  State  Militia,  for  their  gallant  conduct  in 


GREAT    REBELLION.  229 

resisting,  in  the  front  line,  the  main  attack  of  the  enemy 
upon  this  position,  after  sustaining  a  terrific  fire  from 
seventy-five  to  one  hundred  pieces  of  artillery.  He 
congratulates  them  upon  contributing  so  essentially  to 
the  glorious,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  decisive  victory  of 
yesterday." 

The  losses  in  the  Brigade  during  this  battle  were  as 
follows :  — 

Killed.     Wounded.    Missing.       Total. 

Thirteenth  Regiment,  8  89  26  123 
Fourteenth  Regiment,  17  68  22  107 
Sixteenth  Regiment,  14  89  15  118 

Totals,  39        246          63          348 

General  Stannard  was  among  the  wounded  in  this 
engagement.  One  of  his  staff  officers,  in  an  article 
entitled  "  Vermont  at  Gettysburg,"  says,  "  During  the 
last  sharp  shower  of  grape  and  shell  with  which  the 
enemy  strove  to  cover  his  repulse,  General  Stannard 
was  wounded  in  the  leg  by  an  iron  shrapnel  ball,  which 
passed  down  for  three  inches  into  the  muscles  on  the 
inside  of  the  thigh.  His  wound  was  very  painful  until 
a  surgeon  came  —  which  was  not  for  an  hour  —  and 
removed  the  ball ;  but,  though  strongly  urged,  he  re 
fused  to  leave  the  field.  He  remained  in  front  with 
his  men  till  his  command  was  relieved  from  duty  in 
the  front  line,  his  wounded  had  been  removed,  and 


230  VERMONT   IN   THE 

arrangements  made  for  burying  the  dead,  and  then 
sank  almost  lifeless  to  the  ground.  To  his  perfect 
coolness,  close  and  constant  presence  with  his  men, 
and  to  the  promptness  —  almost  that  of  inspiration  — 
with  which  he  seized  the  great  opportunity  of  the 
battle,  was  very  greatly  owing  the  glorious  success  of 
the  day." 

The  term  of  service  of  the  Twelfth  Regiment  ex 
pired  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service  on  the  14th  of  July,  1863 ;  the  Thirteenth  was 
mustered  out  on  the  21st  of  July,  1863 ;  the  Fourteenth 
on  the  30th  of  July,  1863;  the  Fifteenth  on  the  5th  of 
August,  1863 ;  and  the  Sixteenth  on  the  10th  of  Au 
gust,  1863. 

SEVEN  TEETH  REGIMENT. 

This  Regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service,  by  companies,  in  1864,  and  was  mustered  out 
on  the  14th  of  July,  1865.  It  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  Francis  V.  Randall,  of  Montpelier.  It  was 
engaged  in  the  following  battles:  — 

Wilderness,  May  6  to  9,  1864. 

Spottsylvania,  May  12  to  15,  1864. 

Spottsylvania,  May  18,  1864. 

North  Anna,  May  25  and  26,  1864. 

Tolopotomy,  May  31,  1864. 

Bethesda  Church,  June  3,  1864. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  231 

Cold  Harbor,  June  7  and  8,  1864. 

Petersburg,  June  17,  1864. 

Petersburg  Mine,  July  30,  1864. 

Weldon  Railroad,  August  26,  1864. 
Poplar  Grove  Church,       September  30,  1864. 

Hatcher's  Run,  October  27  and  28,  1864. 

Petersburg,'  April  2,  1865. 

Companies  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  and  G,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  Cummings,  of 
Brattleboro',  left  the  State  on  the  18th  of  April,  1864. 
Company  H  joined  the  regiment  on  the  8th  of  June; 
Company  I  on  the  13th  of  August,  and  was  soon  after 
followed  by  Company  K.  They  joined  the  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  Ninth  Army  Corps,  at  Alex 
andria,  Va.,  on  the  22d  of  April.  They  were  in  the 
battle  of  the  Wilderness  from  the  6th  to  the  9th  of 
May.  On  the  6th  the  regiment  was-  under  a  heavy 
fire,  during  which  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cummings  was 
wounded  in  the  head,  and  the  command  devolved  upon 
Major  William  B.  Reynolds.  The  officers  and  men 
behaved  with  remarkable  coolness  and  gallantry  in  this 
and  all  the  subsequent  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  adding 
its  share  to  the  honor  reflected  upon  Vermont  by  her 
troops  in  the  field.  The  men  were  suffering  from 
measles,  and  mustered  but  three  hundred  and  thirteen 
muskets  on  the  morning  of  the  battle.  The  regiment 


232  VERMONT   IN   THE 

lost  nine  men  killed,  sixty-four  wounded,  and  seven 
missing. 

At  Spottsylvania,  from  the  12th  to  the  18th  of  May, 
the  regiment  fought  with  great  bravery,  losing  ten 
men  killed,  and  three  officers  and  fifty-seven  enlisted 
men  wounded.  On  the  3d  of  June  the  regiment  was 
again  under  heavy  fire  at  Bethesda  Church,  during 
which  Captain  A.  J.  Davis,  of  Company  B,  a  noble 
officer,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  soon  died.  The 
casualties  in  the  regiment  from  the  20th  of  May  to  the 
6th  of  June,  being  under  fire  nearly  every  day,  were 
two  killed,  and  thirty- two  wounded,  three  of  whom  died 
of  their  wounds.  On  the  16th  of  June  they  arrived 
near  Petersburg,  and  on  the  17th  greatly  distinguished 
themselves  by  a  gallant  charge  upon  the  works  of  the 
enemy,  which  were  carried.  The  regiment  was  highly 
complimented  by  General  Burnside  for  the  part  it  per 
formed  in  the  charge.  It  was  in  advanced  works  until 
the  20th,  much  of  the  time  under  fire.  Casualties  from 
the  8th  to  the  20th  of  June,  ten  killed  and  twenty-five 
wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  Lieutenant  Guy  H. 
Guyer,  a  gallant  officer.  It  was  in  constant  active  ser 
vice  from  the  20th  of  June  to  the  29th  of  July,  losing 
five  men  killed,  and  twenty-seven  wounded. 

The  regiment,  under  Major  Reynolds,  was  in  the 
famous  charge  at  Petersburg,  on  the  30th  of  July, 
after  the  blowing  up  of  the  enemy's  forts  by  means  of 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  233 

"mines,"  behaved  gallantly,  and  lost  every  one  of 
its  commissioned  officers  —  three  killed,  one  wounded, 
four  missing ;  enlisted  men,  three  killed,  twenty-three 
wounded,  seventeen  missing  —  aggregate  loss,  fifty-one. 
Among  the  killed  were  the  gallant  Major  Reynolds, 
and  Lieutenants  William  F.  Martin  and  John  R.  Con 
verse,  all  brave  officers. 

On  the  30th  of  September  the  regiment  was  in 
another  severe  engagement,  opposite  Petersburg,  the 
officers  and  men  sustaining  their  well-earned  reputation 
for  bravery.  The  casualties  were,  —  officers,  three 
wounded  and  missing ;  enlisted  men,  three  killed,  and 
forty-one  wounded,  and  twenty-nine  missing.  Among 
the  wounded  and  missing  was  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Cummings.  He  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and 
died  of  his  wounds  soon  after. 

In  October,  Company  K  joined  the  regiment,  making 
the  full  complement  of  ten  companies,  and  on  the  27th 
Colonel  Francis  V.  Randall  assumed  the  command. 
During  the  winter  Colonel  Randall  was  in  command  of 
Fort  Davis,  on  the  Jerusalem  Plank  Road,  about  two 
miles  from  Petersburg,  and  the  Seventeenth  was  sta 
tioned  there.  On  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  April,  1865, 
it  was  hotly  engaged  in  the  assault  upon  Petersburg 
which  resulted  in  its  surrender.  It  was  under  the 
immediate  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Knapp,  and 
all  behaved  with  great  bravery.  The  loss  to  the  regi- 


234  VERMONT   IN    THE 

ment  was  eight  killed,  thirty-nine  wounded,  and  two 
missing.  Among  the  killed  was  Lieutenant  J.  Edwin 
Henry,  of  Company  K,  a  fine  officer.  Among  the 
wounded  was  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lyman  E.  Knapp, 
Captain  George  S.  Robinson,  and  Lieutenant  Hollis  O. 
Claflin. 

The  regiment  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  Lee's  army, 
and,  after  its  surrender,  returned  to  Burkesville,  where 
Colonel  Randall  was  placed  in  command  of  the  town. 
On  being  relieved  here,  the  regiment  moved  to  Alex 
andria,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  on  the  14th 
of  July,  1865. 

SHARPSHOOTERS. 

There  were  three  companies  of  Sharpshooters  raised 
in  Vermont,  and,  with  those  sent  from  other  States, 
proved  a  most  valuable  arm  of  the  service.  Their 
duties  were  most  arduous,  and  often  in  positions  of 
greatest  danger.  They  were  performed  by  individuals, 
detachments,  and  companies,  where  other  troops  could 
not  be  used  either  safely  or  effectively.  They  partici 
pated  in  more  battles  and  skirmishes  than  the  average 
of  other  troops,  and  probably  sent  more  rebels  into  the 
presence  of  their  Maker  than  the  same  number  of  men 
in  other  organizations.  They  were  seldom  used  in  line 
of  battle  in  dense  masses,  and  consequently  suffered 
less  loss  in  comparison  than  most  other  regiments. 


SHARPSHOOTER. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  235 

Such  was  the  nature  of  their  duties,  and  the  manner 
in  which  they  performed  them,  that  they  received  but 
a  very  small  share  of  the  glory  of  the  war  which  was 
actually  due  them. 

The  First  Company,  F,  was  attached  to  the  First 
Regiment  United  States  Sharpshooters;  the  Second, 
E,  and  the  Third,  H,  were  attached  to  the  Second 
Regiment  United  States  Sharpshooters. 

Company  F  was  successively  commanded  by  Ed 
mund  Weston,  Jr.,  of  Randolph,  who  resigned  August, 
2,  1862 ;  Charles  W.  Seaton,  of  Charlotte,  resigned 
May  15,  1863;  Ezbon  W.  Hindes,  of  Rutland,  dis 
charged  for  disability,  November  7,  1863  ;  and  Charles 

D.  Merriam,  of  Brattleboro',  mustered  out  with  the 
original  members  of  the  company,  September  13,  1864. 

Company  E  was  successively  commanded  by  Homer 

E.  Stoughton,  of  Randolph,  promoted  to  Major  of  his 
regiment,  September  2,  1862 ;  Francis  D.  Sweetzer,  dis 
charged  for  disability,  September  14,  1863;  and  Sey 
mour  F.  Norton,  of  Burlington,  transferred  with  the 
veterans  of  his  company  to  the  Fourth  Vermont  Regi 
ment,  February  25,  1865. 

Company  H  was  successively  commanded  by  Gilbert 
Hunt,  of  Dorset,  resigned  August  13,  1862;  Albert 
Buxton,  of  Londonderry,  killed  in  action  at  Wilderness, 
May  6,  1864 ;  William  Newell,  of  Dorset,  honorably 
discharged,  October  7,  1864,  for  wounds  received  in 


236  VERMONT   IN    THE 

action  before  Petersburg,  June  21,  1864;  William  H. 
Churchill,  of  Londonderry,  killed  in  action  before 
Petersburg,  October  27,  1864;  and  Walter  W.  Smith, 
of  Wilmington,  transferred  to  Fourth  Vermont  Regi 
ment,  February  25,  J865. 

Company  F  was  in  thirty-seven  engagements,  from 
Great  Bethel,  March  28,  1862,  to  Petersburg,  October 
27,  1864. 

Companies  E  and  H  were  in  twenty-four  engage 
ments,  from  that  at  Orange  Court  House,  August  4, 
1862,  to  that  at  Hatcher's  Run,  December  5,  1864. 

William  Y.  H.  Ripley,  of  Rutland,  was  commissioned 
Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  Sharpshoot 
ers,  January  1,  1862,  and  discharged  for  promotion, 
August  6,  1862.  Homer  R.  Stoughton,  of  Randolph, 
was  successively  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company 
E,  to  Major,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Colonel  of  the 
Second  Regiment.  He  was  wounded  May  5,  1864, 
mustered  out  after  the  regiment  was  disbanded. 

Company  F  was  at  Kelley's  Ford,  November  7, 1863, 
and  with  its  regiment,  numbering  less  than  two  hun 
dred,  forded  the  river,  under  a  severe  fire,  in  pursuit  of 
the  retreating  enemy,  and  captured  five  hundred  and 
six  prisoners,  of  whom  more  than  two  hundred  surren 
dered  to  Company  F.  At  the  Wilderness,  on  the  5th 
of  May,  1864,  it  went  into  the  fight  with  two  officers 
and  forty-three  enlisted  men.  They  were  deployed  as 


GREAT    REBELLION.  237 

skirmishers  on  the  left  of  the  "Vermont  Brigade." 
The  men  fought  bravely,  but  were  forced  back,  losing 
in  five  minutes'  fighting  thirteen  of  its  number  —  five 
killed  or  mortally  wounded,  and  two  taken  prisoners. 
The  company  was  almost  constantly  engaged  in  fight 
ing  and  skirmishing  through  the  summer,  every  officer 
and  man  doing  his  duty  well.  On  the  19th  of  Septem 
ber,  their  term  of  service  having  expired,  those  officers 
and  men,  twenty  in  all,  who  had  not  re-enlisted,  were 
mustered  out  of  service. 

Companies  F  and  H,  attached  to  the  Second  Regi 
ment,  distinguished  themselves  on  many  occasions, 
through  the  summer  and  fall  of  1863.  They  were  en 
gaged  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  from  the  5th  to 
the  8th  of  May,  1864,  both  inclusive.  Captain  Buxton, 
of  Company  H,  a  most  brave  and  worthy  officer,  was 
killed  on  the  6th.  That  company,  also,  lost  four  men 
killed,  nineteen  wounded,  and  two  missing.  From  the 
5th  to  the  18th  of  May  the  companies  were  almost 
constantly  fighting  and  skirmishing.  Company  E  lost 
three  killed  and  twenty  wounded ;  Company  H,  five 
killed,  nineteen  wrounded,  and  two  missing.  On  the 
31st  of  May  the  regiment  charged  and  carried  the 
enemy's  works,  capturing  nearly  as  many  prisoners  as 
there  were  men  in  the  regiment.  They  were  actively 
engaged  at  Petersburg,  and  Colonel  Stoughton,  who 
was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  was  captured.  They 


238  VERMONT    IN   THE 

served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until  February, 
1865,  when  they  were  transferred  to  the  Fourth  Ver 
mont,  and  became  Companies  G  and  H  of  that  regi 
ment. 

FIRST  BATTERY  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

This  Battery  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  February  18,  1862.  It  was  commanded  by 
George  H.  Duncan,  of  Shaftsbury,  who  resigned  Feb 
ruary  11,  1863;  and  George  T.  Hebard,  of  Chelsea, 
who  was  mustered  out  of  service  August  10,  1864, 
when  the  original  members  were  mustered  out,  and 
the  recruits  transferred  to  the  Second  Vermont  Bat 
tery. 

The  First  Battery  was  in  the  following  engage 
ments  :  — 

Siege  of  Port  Hudson,  May  25  to  July  9,  1863. 

Pleasant  Hill,  April  9,  1864. 

Cane  River,  April  23,  1864. 

Bayou  de  Glaze,  May  18,  1864. 

This  Battery  was  stationed  at  Baton  Rouge  un 
til  the  21st  of  May,  1863,  when  it  was  moved  to 
Port  Hudson,  and  was  engaged  in  the  siege  of  that 
place,  the  men  distinguishing  themselves  for  their  dis 
cipline,  drill,  and  fighting  qualities.  During  the  fol 
lowing  winter,  several  detachments  were  sent  out  from 


GREAT   EEBELLION.  239 

this  Battery  on  reconnoisances  and  for  other  duty.  At 
Pleasant  Hill,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1864,  they  were 
charged  upon  by  the  enemy  in  force,  and  a  severe  fire 
of  cannister "  was  opened  upon  them  at  short  range, 
which  was  gallantly  repulsed.  Captain  Hebard,  in 
his  report,  says  that  "even  when  the  enemy  were 
within  fifty  yards^nd  within  speaking  distance,  not 
an  officer  or  man  left  his  post."  The  casualties 
were  one  man  wounded,  and  five  horses  killed  and 
wounded. 

The  Adjutant  General,  in  his  report  for  1864,  says, 
"The  Battery  has  been  greatly  distinguished  for  its 
thorough  discipline  and  the  effectiveness  of  its  drill, 
and  the  officers  and  men  have  had  large  experience 
in  the  dangers  and  vicissitudes  of  battle,  and  have  on 
all  occasions  distinguished  themselves  for  their  cool 
daring  and  determined  courage."  Their  term  of  ser 
vice  having  expired,  the  Battery  was  mustered  out  of 
service,  at  Brattleboro',  on  the  10th  of  August,  1864. 


SECOND  BATTERY  OP  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

This  Battery  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  December  24,  1861.  It  was  commanded  by 
Lensie  K.  Sales,  of  Leicester,  who  resigned  February 
20,  1862;  Pythagoras  E.  Holcomb,  of  the  Seventeenth 


240  VEEMONT   IN    THE 

United  States  Infantry,  who  was  promoted  to  Major 
of  Texas  Cavalry,  August  19,  1863 ;  and  John  W. 
Chase,  of  Brandon,  who  was  mustered  out  with  the 
Battery.  It  was  engaged  in  the  following  actions  :  — 

Plain's  Store,  May  21,  1863. 

Siege  of  Port  Hudson,          May  25  to  July  9,  1863. 

This  Battery  was  stationed  at  Ship  Island  and  New 
Orleans,  served  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  and 
was  in  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson,  the  men  fighting 
with  coolness  and  courage.  On  the  31st  of  August, 
1863,  it  was  stationed  at  Port  Hudson,  performing 
garrison  duty,  and  going  by  detachments  on  expedi 
tions  into  the  interior  as  occasion  required,  until  Sep 
tember  20,  1864,  when  twenty  of  the  men  who  did 
not  re-enlist,  whose  term  had  expired,  were  mustered 
out  of  service.  The  Battery  was  largely  re-enforced 
by  recruits  and  transfers  from  the  First  Battery.  It 
remained  at  Port  Hudson  until  July,  1865,  when  it 
was  mustered  out  of  service. 


TRIED  BATTEET  or  LIGHT  AETILLEEY. 

This  Battery  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  January  1, 1864.  It  was  commanded  by  Romeo 
H.  Start,  of  St.  Albans,  during  its  whole  term  of  ser 
vice.  It  was  in  four  engagements  at  Petersburg; 


GKEAT   REBELLION.  241 

July  30,  1864;  August  18,  1864;  March  25,  1865; 
and  April  2,  1865.  This  Battery  was  organized  at 
Burlington,  and  left  for  Washington  on  the  15th  of 
January,  1864,  where  it  remained  under  drill  until  the 
25th  of  April,  and  then  was  attached  to  the  Ninth 
Army  Corps,  but  was  not  engaged  until  they  arrived 
opposite  Petersburg,  where  they  became  active  parti- 
cipiants  in  the  siege  of  that  place,  and  Captain  Start 
reported  that  in  the  almost  daily  artillery  duels  in 
which  they  participated,  the  conduct  of  the  officers 
and  men,  amid  all  the  dangers,  hardships,  and  great 
privations  of  the  campaign,  was  all  that  he  could 
desire. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  when  the  general  assault  was 
made  upon  Petersburg,  this  battery  was  under  fire  of 
artillery  and  infantry  during  the  whole  day,  and  offi 
cers  and  men,  without  exception,  behaved  as  became 
Vermonters.  Captain  Start  named  "Lieutenants 
Rowell  and  Perrin,  Sergeants  William  H.  Parker, 
Parker  C.  Thomas,  and  Benjamin  M.  Clay,  Corporals 
George  H.  Kelley,  Lewis  E.  Oilman,  and  Frank  F. 
Libby,  and  Private  William  Washburn,  as  deserving 
special  mention  for  coolness  and  conspicuous  gallantry 
during  the  day." 

On  the  3d  of  April  Captain  Start  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  reserve  artillery  brigade  of  the  Sixth 
Corps,  and  directed  to  take  charge  of  twenty  pieces 


242  VERMONT   IN    THE 

of  captured  artillery,  and  to  move  the  brigade  and 
captured  guns  to  City  Point,  which  was  done,  and 
the  brigade  remained  in  camp  there  until  the  3d  of 
May,  when  they  started  by  way  of  Richmond  and 
Fredericksburg  for  Alexandria,  Va.,  where  they  ar 
rived  on  the  18th.  On  the  5th  of  June  the  Battery 
started  for  Burlington,  where  the  men  were  mustered 
out  on  the  13th. 

FIKST  REGIMENT  OF  CAVALKY. 

This  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  at  Burlington,  on  the  19th  of  November,  and 
left  the  State  with  nine  hundred  and  sixty-six  officers 
and  men  on  the  14th  of  December,  1861.  It  was  suc 
cessively  commanded  by  Lemuel  B.  Platt,  of  Colches 
ter,  who  resigned  February  27,  1862;  Jonas  P.  Holli- 
day,  of  the  Second  United  States  Cavalry,  who  com 
mitted  suicide  April  5,  1862;  Charles  H.  Tompkins, 
of  the  Fifth  United  States  Cavalry,  resigned  Septem 
ber  9,  1862;  Edward  B.  Sawyer,  of  Hydepark,  re 
signed  April  28,  1864;  Addison  W.  Preston,  of  Dan 
ville,  killed  in  action  at  Salem  Church,  Va.,  June  3, 
1864;  William  Wells,  of  Waterbury,  promoted  Brig 
adier  General  United  States  Volunteers,  May  19, 
1865 ;  and  Josiah  Hall,  of  Westminster,  mustered  out 
June  21,  1865. 


GEEAT   EEBELLION.  243 

This  regiment  was  in  seventy-three  engagements, 
from  Mount  Jackson,  April  16,  1862,  to  that  at  Appo- 
mattox  Court  House,  April  9,  1865.  During  the  early 
part  of  their  service  they  were  engaged  in  picket  duty 
in  front  of  Washington,  having  detachments  quar 
tered  in  several  different  fortifications  in  the  vicinity 
of  that  city.  On  the  1st  of  April,  1863,  they  were 
in  a  skirmish  with  Mosby's  guerrillas,  in  which  Captain 
Henry  C.  Flint,  of  Company  I,  and  First  Lieutenant 
Charles  H.  Woodbury,  of  Company  B,  —  both  brave 
and  dashing  officers,  —  were  killed.  Several  enlisted 
men  were  killed  and  wounded  in  this  engagement.  On 
the  30th  of  May,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Preston,  with  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  officers  and  men,  and  a  de 
tachment  of  the  Fifth  "New  York  Cavalry,  were  sent 
out  in  pursuit  of  Mosby  and  one  hundred  guerrillas, 
who  had  attacked  and  plundered  a  train  of  cars  near 
Kettle.  Run,  Va.,  Company  H,  Lieutenant  Hazelton, 
and  Company  C,  Sergeant  Hill,  charged  up  a  narrow 
road,  in  the  face  of  a  terrible  storm  of  grape  and  shell. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Preston,  in  his  report,  says,  "  The 
rebels  fought  their  piece  with  desperation,  firing  their 
last  shot  after  they  were  surrounded  by  our  men, 
•  which  shot  passed  through  a  horse  not  twenty  feet 
from  the  gun,  and  wounded  several  men.  Lieutenant 
Chapman  (rebel)  never  left  his  gun,  but  with  his  re 
volver  wounded  several  men  in  hand-to-hand  fight. 


244  VERMONT   IN   THE 

He  was  wounded  twice,  and  captured.  Mosby  fled 
through  the  woods,  closely  pursued,  leaving  his  artil 
lery  and  gunners  in  our  possession.  We  recaptured 
the  mail  taken  from  the  cars,  and  several  other  things, 
with  a  number  of  prisoners.  As  a  feat  of  daring,  it 
has  not  been  exceeded  during  the  war." 

The  Adjutant  General  of  Vermont,  in  his  report  for 
1863,  says,  "During  the  campaign  in  Maryland  and 
Pennsylvania,  in  June  and  July,  the  regiment,  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Preston,  partici 
pated  in  a  series  of  engagements,  in  which  both  offi 
cers  and  men  behaved  most  gallantly.  At  Hanover, 
Huntsville,  Gettysburg,  Hagerstown,  and  Boonsboro', 
they  fought  with  the  most  reckless  bravery,  and  won 
a  reputation  second  to  none.  The  casualties,"  from 
June  30  to  July  8,  were,  nineteen  killed  and  forty-four 
wounded." 

Through  July  and  August  the  regiment  was  con 
stantly  on  the  move,  and  had  almost  daily  skirmishes 
with  the  enemy  and  with  guerrillas.  On  the  1st  of 
September  they  composed  a  part  of  the  expedition 
into  King  George  County,  Md.,  which  resulted  in  the 
capture  of  two  rebel  gun-boats  by  cavalry,  and  on  the 
3d  returned  to  their  camp  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  and 
picketed  at  the  Rappahannock  until  the  12th,  when  they 
went  to  Culpeper  Court  House,  and  charged  through 
the  town,  driving  the  enemy,  capturing  eight  prison- 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  245 

ers  and  one  gun,  carriage,  and  horses.  They  again 
met  the  enemy  in  force  near  James  City,  on  the  10th 
of  October,  and  in  the  retreat  from  that  place  through 
Culpeper  to  Brandy  Station  and  across  the  Rappahan- 
nock,  and  the  attendant  engagement,  the  regiment 
again  distinguished  itself  for  coolness  and  daring  bra 
very,  repeatedly  charging  the  enemy,  and  was  highly 
commended  by  the  brigade  commander.  All  through 
that  month  and  November  they  were  almost  contin 
ually  on  the  move,  having  frequent  skirmishes  with 
the  enemy.  On  the  6th  of  December  they  went  to 
Stevensburgh,  where  they  remained  until  the  28th 
of  February,  1864,  picketing  the  line  of  the  Rapi- 
dan. 

On  the  29th  of  February  this  regiment  assisted  in 
destroying  the  depot  and  railroad  at  Beaver  Dam 
Station.  On  the  1st  of  March  they  crossed  the  Chick- 
ahominy,  and  halted  three  miles  from  Richmond. 
From  thence  they  moved  to  Mechanicsville,  having 
destroyed  a  mile  of  trestle-work  railroad  on  the  way. 
On  the  4th  they  marched  to  Yorktown,  from  whence 
detachments  were  sent  out  on  various  expeditions  of 
responsibility  and  danger.  They  went  to  Alexandria 
on  the  13th,  and  from  thence  to  Stevensburgh, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  18th,  and  remained  there 
until  the  3d  of  May.  On  the  5th  they  met  the  ene 
my's  cavalry  at  Craig's  Church,  where  a  sharp  fight 


246  VERMONT    IN    THE 

ensued,  lasting  several  hours,  in  which  they  lost  four 
men  killed,  three  officers,  and  twenty-four  men  wounded, 
and  fourteen  missing.  They  were  again  engaged  at 
Yellow  Tavern,  seven  miles  from  Richmond,  five  hours, 
driving  the  enemy  from  their  position,  with  the  loss 
of  General  Stuart,  Brigadier  General  Gordon,  and 
others.  This  regiment  lost  two  men  killed,  two 
officers,  eight  men  wounded,  and  four  missing. 

On  the  1st  of  June  the  regiment  was  again  engaged 
at  Ashland,  losing  seven  men  wounded,  and  two  offi 
cers  and  twenty-four  men  captured.  Again,  on  the 
3d,  at  Salem  Church,  in  a  fight  with  the  enemy,  they 
lost  two  officers  killed,  and  five  men  wounded.  At 
White  Oak  Swamp,  on  the  13th,  they  were  engaged 
during  the  entire  day,  losing  one  killed,  twelve  wounded, 
and  three  missing.  At  Malvern  Hill,  on  the  15th,  they 
had  one  officer  and  two  men  wounded.  On  the  22d 
they  went  with  General  Wilson  on  his  celebrated  raid 
into  the  enemy's  country.  In  a  severe  fight  .with 
the  enemy,  on  the  28th  and  29th,  near  Strong  Creek 
Station,  one  officer  was  wounded  and  missing,  eleven 
men  wounded  and  seventy-five  missing.  For  eleven 
days  the  regiment  was  marching,  fighting,  destroying 
property,  and  breaking  the  connection  of  the  enemy. 
They  were  almost  every  day  throughout  the  months 
of  July,  August,  and  September,  on  the  move,  fight 
ing,  skirmishing,  and  destroying  rebel  property.  In 


GREAT    REBELLION.   •  247 

September,  Colonel  William  Wells,  who  had  been  in 
command  of  the  regiment  from  the  3d  of  June,  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  Second  Brigade,  and  the 
command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant 
Colonel  John  W.  Bennett.  In  February,  1865,  Col 
onel  Wells  was  breveted  Brigadier  General  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  service,  and  on  the  19th  of  May  was 
appointed  Brigadier  General  of  Volunteers.  Colonel 
Wells  reported,  that  while  the  regiment  was  under  his 
command,  "the  field,  staff,  and  line  officers  of  the 
regiment  rendered  most  valuable  service,  and  that  no 
regiment  in  the  Division  marched  more  miles,  or 
fought  more  battles,  than  the  First  Vermont." 

On  the  19th  of  October  the  regiment  was  again 
engaged  with  the  Brigade  commanded  by  General 
Custer,  in  a  desperate  fight  with  the  enemy,  displaying 
great  coolness  and  courage.  They  captured  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty-one  prisoners,  a  large  number  of  horses, 
wagons,  and  a  large  amount  of  other  rebel  property. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Bennett  reported  that  "  every  offi 
cer  and  man  under  his  command,  who  participated  in 
that  charge,  conducted  himself  with  such  gallantry 
as  to  merit  special  mention." 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1864,  the  original  members 
of  the  regiment,  who  had  not  re-enlisted,  returned  to 
Vermont,  and  were  mustered  out  on  the  18th  of  No 
vember.  They  left  in  the  field  about  four  hundred 


248  VEEMONT    IN    THE 

men  and  three  officers,  under  command  of  Major 
William  G.  Cummings.  On* the  20th  of  December 
the  division  to  which  the  Vermont  Regiment  was  at 
tached,  while  on  a  reconnoissance,  was  attacked  in  camp 
just  before  daylight.  The  attack  was  made  upon  the 
Eighth  New  York.  The  First  Vermont,  hearing  the 
firing,  moved  at  once  in  its  direction,  skirmished  for  a 
while  with  the  enemy,  and  then  made  a  charge,  cap 
turing  about  thirty  prisoners,  without  losing  a  man. 
On  the  22d  the  regiment  went  into  winter  quarters 
near  Winchester,  Va.,  where  they  remained  until  the 
opening  of  the  spring  campaign.  On  the  1st  of  Feb 
ruary,  1865,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Josiah  Hall  rejoined 
the  regiment  and  assumed  command. 

On  the  27th  of  February  the  regiment  broke  camp, 
and  started  on  the  spring  campaign,  forming  a  part  of 
General  Ouster's  Division  of  General  Sheridan's  com 
mand,  the  history  of  the  movements  of  which,  during 
the  closing  month  of  the  war,  is  well  known,  and  will 
be  long  and  gratefully  remembered  by  the  loyal  peo 
ple  of  the  country.  The  conduct  of  this  regiment 
throughout  was  such  as  any  Vermonter  may  well  be 
proud  to  remember.  They  were  at  Appomattox  Court 
House  on  the  9th  of  April,  and  in  line  of  battle  while 
the  terms  for  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  to  General 
Grant  were  being  arranged. 

On  the  9th  of  June  the  regiment  left  Washington 


GREAT    REBELLION.  249 

for  Vermont,  arriving  at  Burlington  on  the  13th. 
Those  recruits  whose  terms  of  service  would  expire 
before  the  1st  of  the  next  October,  were  mustered  out 
of  service  on  the  21st,  and  the  remainder  of  the  men 
were  consolidated  into  six  companies,  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  William  G.  Cummings  placed  in  command, 
Colonel  Hall  having  been  mustered  out.  Two  com 
panies  were  stationed  at  St.  Albans,  and  the  others  at 
different  points  in  Northern  New  York,  with  head 
quarters  at  Champlain.  The  battalion  was  finally 
mustered  out  of  service  on  the  9th  of  August,  1865. 

The  history  of  the  marches,  skirmishes,  charges,  and 
battles  of  the  Vermont  Cavalry  alone  would  make  a 
most  thrillingly  interesting  book,  of  dimensions  much 
larger  than  this  one.  No  organization  in  the  army,  it 
is  believed,  endured  more  exposure  and  fatigue,  with 
out  a  murmur  or  complaint ;  fought  more  battles  with 
out  straggling  and  flinching;  made  more  desperate 
and  successful  charges  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy, 
or  deserved  more  honor,  than  the  First  Vermont 
Cavalry. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


GENERAL  GEORGE  J.  STANNARD. 

THE  design  of  this  book  would  not  be  carried  out 
without  a  particular  notice  of  Brigadier  General  George 
J.  Stannard,  of  St.  Albans.  He  was  identified  with  the 
Vermont  troops  from  the  commencement  to  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  served  in  several  different  organiza 
tions  and  in  many  capacities,  from  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  the  Second  Vermont  Regiment  to  commander  of 
the  First  Division  of  the  Eighteenth  Army  Corps, 
showing  himself  in  all  of  them,  and  on  all  occasions,  a 
most  capable,  intelligent,  cool,  brave,  and  faithful  officer. 
To  him,  as  much  as  to  any  single  man,  is  due  the  envi 
able  reputation  which  the  Vermont  troops  obtained 
and  enjoyed  for  patience,  faithfulness,  and  soldierly 
conduct  in  camp,  and  gallantry  on  every  field,  during 
the  whole  four  years  of  the  great  struggle  of  loyalty 
with  treason. 

General  Stannard   was  born   at  Georgia,  Franklin 

(251) 


252  GREAT   REBELLION. 

County,  Vermont,  in  1820.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  academies 
there  and  at  St.  Albans,  with  a  view  to  a  collegiate 
course,  which  he  finally  abandoned,  and  engaged  as 
clerk  in  a  foundery  establishment  at  St.  Albans.  He 
subsequently  became  a  partner  in  the  business,  and  so 
continued  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion. 

When  the  Vermont  Volunteer  Militia  was  organized, 
in  1855,  the  Third  Company — afterwards  known  as 
the  Ransom  Guards  —  was  enlisted  at  St.  Albans,  and 
General  Stannard  was  chosen  First  Lieutenant,  which 
position  he  held  until  the  organization  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  in  1858,  when  he  was  elected  Colonel,  and 
was  the  second  ranking  Colonel  in  the  State. 

In  April,  1861,  immediately  after  the  assault  upon 
Fort  Sumter,  General  Stannard  corresponded  with  the 
commanders  of  the  several  companies  composing  his 
regiment,  and  having  obtained  the  consent  of  all  of 
them,  tendered  his  services,  with  his  regiment,  to  the 
State  to  defend  the  flag.  He  made  the  tender  by  tele 
graph  to  Governor  Fairbanks,  and  also  to  Brigadier 
General  Jackman,  commander  of  all  the  militia  of  the 
State.  General  Stannard  was  the  first  man  in  Vermont 
to  volunteer  for  the  war.  His  regiment  was  formally 
accepted ;  but  later  it  was  decided  by  the  authorities 
that  the  first  regiment  from  Vermont  should  be  made 
up  from  all  its  Volunteer  Militia,  and  the  selection,  by 


GREAT    REBELLION.  253 

companies,  was  left  with  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector 
General,  H.  H.  Baxter. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  1861,  General  Stannard  was 
commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  Second  Resn- 

O 

ment  Vermont  Volunteers,  and  had  charge  of  its  organ 
ization  at  Burlington.  Before  the  Second  left  the 
State,  he  was  offered  the  Colonelcy  of  the  Third  Regi 
ment  Vermont  Volunteers,  but  declined  it,  preferring 
to  remain  with  the  regiment  he  had  been  instrumental 
in  recruiting  and  making  ready  for  the  field. 

General  Stannard  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the 
Ninth  Regiment  Vermont  Volunteers,  on  the  21st  of 
May,  1862,  and  recruited,  organized,  and  went  to  the 
field  with  it.  Without  solicitation  on  his  part,  he 
was  commissioned  Brigadier  General  of  United  States 
Volunteers  orr  the  llth  of  March,  1863,  by  Abraham 
Lincoln,  and  his  commission  forwarded  to  him.  He 
asked  for  the  command  of  the  "Vermont  Brigade," 
with  which  he  had  been  connected  as  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  but  was  refused,  and 
told  that  that  Brigade  could  fight  well  under  any  com 
mander,  or  without  any ;  but  that  the  new  Vermont 
Brigade  required  an  officer  of  energy,  experience,  and 
skill  at  its  head,  and  that  he  must  take  it,  which  he 
did.  The  "  Second  Vermont  Brigade  "  was  composed 
of  the  Twelfth,  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth,  Fifteenth,  and 
Sixteenth,  all  nine  months  regiments. 


254  VERMONT   IN    THE 

This  brigade  was  in  but  one  battle,  that  of  Gettys 
burg,  on  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  July,  1863,  an  account 
of  which,  with  the  gallant  conduct  of  this  brigade  and 
its  commander,  is  given  in  another  place.  In  this  bat 
tle,  near  its  close,  General  Stannard  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  leg  by  an  iron  shrapnel  ball,  which 
caused  him  great  suffering  until  removed  by  a  surgeon 
an  hour  afterward.  He  would  not  be  taken  from  the 
field  until  his  command  was  relieved  from  their  posi 
tion  in  the  front  line,  his  wounded  taken  care  of,  and 
arrangements  made  for  burying  the  dead,  when  he 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to  the  rear  with  his  com 
mand.  For  gallantry  and  coolness  in  action  he  was" 
breveted  Major  General  of  United  States  volunteers. 

In  about  four  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
General  Stannard,  having  recovered  from  his  wounds, 
reported  for  light  duty.  In  November,  1863,  he  was 
placed  in  command  of  all  the  forces  in  New  York, 
which  position  he  held  until  May,  1864.  He  then 
joined  the  Army  of  the  James,  under  General  Butler, 
and  was  ordered  to  the  Tenth  Corps,  where  he  re 
mained  but  a  short  time,  when  he  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  a  brigade  in  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  and  in 
June  took  command  of  the  First  Division,  in  which 
position  he  continued  through  the  summer.  He  was 
in  the  battles  of  Drury's  Bluov  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg, 


GREAT   REBELLION.  255 

and  Chapin's  Farm,  and  at  the  taking  of  Fort  Harri 
son.  At  Cold  Harbor  he  lost  all  his  staff  officers,  two 
of  whom  were  killed  and  four  wounded.  All  his 
orderlies  but  one  were  wounded,  and  he  was  himself 
wounded  twice,  though  slightly.  During  the  battle  of 
Chapin's  Farm,  September  30,  he  was  very  severely 
wounded  in  the  right  arm,  which  was  afterwards 
amputated  at  the  shoulder.  As  soon  as  able  he  came 
home  on  leave  of  absence. 

When  General  Stannard  had  sufficiently  recovered, 
he  reported  to  General  Dix,  commander  of  the  De 
partment  of  the  East,  and  was  ordered  to  the  northern 
frontier,  which  was  then  being  threatened.  In  Febru 
ary,  1866,  he  was  assigned  to  a  position  in  the  Freed- 
man's  Bureau,  and  stationed  at  Baltimore,  where  he 
remained  until  June  of  that  year,  when  he  was  ap 
pointed  United  States  Collector  of  Customs  for  the 
District  of  Vermont,  which  place  he  now  holds,  dis 
charging  its  important  and  responsible  duties  with  the 
same  fidelity  and  energy  which  characterized  him  in 
field  and  camp. 


256  VERMONT  IN   THE 


GENERAL  PETER  T.  WASHBURN. 

No  man  in  Vermont  was  more  conspicuous  or  im 
portant  to  the  troops  from  that  State,  during  the  four 
years'  continuance  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  than 
Peter  T.  Washburn,  of  Woodstock,  which  makes  a 
particular  notice  of  him  essential  to  the  completeness 
of  this  book.  He  was  born  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  September 
7,  1814,  and  when  two  and  a  half  years  old  removed 
with  his  father  to  Vermont.  He  graduated  at  Dart 
mouth  College  in  1835,  and  was  admitted  to  practice, 
as  an  attorney,  at  the  December  term,  1838,  com 
menced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Ludlow  in 
January,  1839,  and  removed  to  Woodstock,  in  1844, 
where  he  has  since  resided ;  and,  as  a  lawyer,  has  at 
tained  a  position  second  to  that  of  no  man  now  living 
in  Windsor  County,  and  to  that  of  but  few  in  the 
State.  In  1844  he  was  elected  Reporter  of  the  Decis 
ions  of  the  Supreme  Court,  for  which  his  great  indus 
try  and  love  of  the  profession  of  law  admirably  fitted 
him,  and  held  the  office  eight  years.  He  represented 
the  town  of  W°°dstock  m  tne  General  Assembly  of 
Vermont  in  1853  and  1854,  and  took  a  prominent 
position  as  a  debater  and  legislator  among  the  ablest 
men  of  the  State. 

General    Washburn's    military    career    commenced 


GREAT   REBELLION.  257 

many  years  ago.  In  1837,  when  but  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  he  was  elected  colonel  of  a  Vermont 
regiment,  and  resigned  his  commission  in  1841.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  in  1861,  but  few  men 
in  Vermont  were  supposed  to  be  versed  in  the  science 
of  war,  and  it  was  believed  to  be  essential  to  the  ef 
ficiency  of  the  troops  she  might  send  to  the  field  that 
they  should  be  commanded  by  men  who  had  been 
educated  at  some  military  institution.  To  this  end,  in 
April,  when  the  first  regiment  was  being  organized, 
under  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five 
thousand  volunteers  for  three  months'  service,  John 
W.  Phelps,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  a  regular 
army  officer  in  the  Mexican  war,  was  appointed  colonel, 
and  Peter  T.  Washburn,  of  Woodstock,  lieutenant  col 
onel,  and  commanded  the  regiment  during  most  of  the 
three  months  of  its  term  of  enlistment.  For  an  ac 
count  of  his  service  in  the  field  reference  may  be  had 
to  the  record  of  that  regiment  in  another  part  of  this 
book. 

In  October,  1861,  Mr.  Washburn  was  elected  Ad 
jutant  and  Inspector  General  of  the  State  of  Vermont, 
in  which  position  he  continued,  being  re-elected  each 
year  until  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  completion 
of  his  reports  and  records,  when,  in  1866,  he  declined  a 
further  election.  It  was  in  this  position  that  General 
Washburn  particularly  distinguished  himself.  His 


258  VERMONT   IN   THE 

untiring  industry,  and  great  ability  as  an  organizer, 
made  him  of  incalculable  value  in  recruiting,  arming, 
and  putting  into  the  field  the  Vermont  troops.  He 
gave  himself  up  to  the  work,  and  did  everything  that 
could  be  done  to  add  to  their  efficiency  and  comfort 
while  there,  and  to  secure  to  his  State  its  share  of  the 
glory  of  the  war.  His  records  were  so  perfectly  kept, 
and  his  reports,  made  to  the  Governor  from  year  to 
year,  and  then  published,  so  carefully  and  systemati 
cally  made,  that  not  more  than  a  score  of  the  thirty- 
five  thousand  men  who  went  from  the  State  of  Ver 
mont  to  the  war  remained  unaccounted  for.  He  was 
emphatically  the  right  man  in  the  right  place.  There 
may  be  other  men  who  could  perform  responsible 
public  duties  as  well  as  General  Washburn  performed 
those  of  this  position ;  but  it  is  lamentably  true  that 
they  are  seldom  sought  out  and  called  to  them.  His 
services  are  appreciated  by  officers  of  every  grade,  and 
by  the  rank  and  file  who  served  in  the  field.  The 
State  owes  him  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  his  five  years' 
service  in  time  of  war  in  the  position  of  Adjutant  and 
Inspector  General. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  259 


GENEKAL  JOHN  WOLCOTT  PHELPS. 

In  consideration  of  his  character  as  a  man,  his  hav 
ing  been  a  graduate  of  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point,  and  served  as  an  officer  in 
the  regular  army  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  John  Wol- 
cott  Phelps,  of  Brattleboro,'  was  commissioned  by 
Governor  Fairbanks,  on  the  2d  of  May,  1861,  Colonel 
of  the  First  Regiment  Vermont  Volunteers,  sent  out 
under  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five 
thousand  volunteers  for  three  months'  service.  He 
went  to  Fortress  Monroe  with  the  regiment,  and  was 
commander  of  the  post.  On  the  27th  of  May,  1861, 
he  was  promoted  to  Brigadier  General  of  United 
States  Volunteers.  He  went  on  an  expedition  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  in  November,  1861,  and  took  mili 
tary  possession  of  Ship  Island,  Miss. ;  was  with  Com 
modore  Farragut's  fleet  in  forcing  the  opening  of  the 
Lower  Mississippi,  in  April,  1862,  and  with  the  naval 
force  taking  possession  of  Fprts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip, 
La.,  April  28,  1862,  and  of  New  Orleans,  La.,  May  1, 
1862,  and  organized  the  first  negro  troops.  He  was 
stationed  at  Carrolton,  seven  miles  from  New  Orleans, 
and  his  camp  was  literally  thronged  with  black  fugi 
tives.  General  Phelps  formed  the  men  of  suitable  age 
into "  companies,  and  made  a  requisition  on  General 


260  VERMONT   IN    THE 

Butler,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Department,  for 
arms  for  them,  saying,  that  he  desired  to  raise  three 
regiments  of  Africans  for  the  defense  of  the  point 
where  he  was  located,  which  was  unhealthy,  and  his 
men  were  dying  at  the  rate  of  two  or  three  a  day. 
General  Butler  directed  him  to  employ  the  contra 
bands  in  and  about  the  camp,  in  cutting  down  all  the 
trees,  &c.,  for  the  purpose  of  defense,  and  ordered  the 
quartermaster  to  furnish  axes  and  tents  for  the  contra 
bands.  General  Phelps  replied  that  he  was  willing  to 
organize  African  regiments  for  the  defense  of  the 
Government,  but  would  not  become  the  mere  slave- 
driver,  "having  no  qualification  that  way,"  and  ten 
dered  his  resignation,  which  General  Butler  refused  to 
accept. 

In  August,  1862,  General  Phelps,  with  his  reasons 
therefor,  returned  his  commission  to  the  President. 
Months  afterwards,  when  circumstances  compelled 
the  Administration  to  adopt  the  very  policy  proposed 
by  General  Phelps,  the  President  offered  him  a  Major 
General's  cdmmission,  which  he  would  accept  only  on 
condition  that  it  should  bear  date  upon  the  day  of  his 
resignation.  To  this  the  President  would  not  accede, 
as,  while  it  would  be  only  justice  to  General  Phelps, 
it  would  be  an  implied  censure  of  General  Butler, 
whose  conduct  in  the  matter  was  approved  by  the 
Administration,  though  a  change  of  policy  became 
expedient  and  necessary  afterwards. 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  261 

By  an  order  of  the  rebel  government,  dated  Au 
gust  21,  1862,  General  Phelps  was  declared  an  outlaw, 
for  having  "  organized  and  armed  negro  slaves  for 
military  service  against  their  masters,  citizens  of  the 
Confederacy." 

General  Phelps  was  a  most  accomplished  officer.  By 
his  constant  thoughtfulness  of  the  comfort  of  his  men, 
and  his  peculiar  mode  of  enforcing  discipline,  he  was 
very  much  respected  and  beloved  by  his  whole  com 
mand.  On  resigning  his  commission  he  returned  to 
Brattleboro',  where  he  has  since  resided,  enjoying  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  CHARLES  CUMMINGS. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  State  of  Vermont  for  his  many 
excellent  qualities  of  head  and  heart.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Cummings  was  born  at  Royalston,  Mass.,  in 
February,  1821.  He  studied  medicine,  and  in  1847 
received  the  degreee  of  M.  D.  at  Woodstock.  He 
practiced  his  profession  at  Fitzwilliam,  N".  H.,  three 
years,  but  his  tastes  were  for  literary  pursuits,  and  he 
abandoned  his  profession,  and  removed  to  Brattleboro' 
in  1852,  connected  himself  with  the  Brattleboro' 
Eagle,  as  associate  editor  with  Hon.  B.  D.  Harris,  and 


262  VERMONT    IN    THE 

subsequently,  in  a  similar  capacity,  with  the  Vermont 
Phenix,  at  that  place.  After  a  time  he  became  propri 
etor  of  the  Phenix,  and  so  continued  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death. 

In  1858  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cummings  was  elected 
Clerk  of  the  Vermont  House  of  Representatives,  and 
performed  the  duties  of  the  position  so  acceptably 
that  he  was  re-elected  at  three  subsequent  sessions. 
He  enlisted  for  the  war  as  a  private  in  Company  E, 
Eleventh  Regiment,  and  was  chosen  First  Lieutenant. 
Before  that  regiment  left  the  State,  he  was  commis 
sioned  by  the  Governor  Major  of  the  Twelfth, —  a 
nine  months'  regiment,  —  and  subsequently,  before 
leaving  the  State,  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  Colo 
nel  of  the  Sixteenth,  also  a  nine  months'  regiment. 
This  regiment  formed  a  part  of  the  Second  Vermont 
Brigade,  a  full  account  of  the  movements  of  which  is 
given  elsewhere  in  this  book.  For  a  few  months  he 
was  Provost  Marshal  at  Fairfax,  performing  the  duties 
to  general  acceptance. 

In  February,  1864,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cummings 
was  assigned  to  the  Seventeenth  Regiment,  and  in 
April,  not  being  full  so  that  a  colonel  could  be  mus 
tered,  the  regiment  left  the  State  for  the  seat  of  war 
under  his  command.  In  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
on  the  6th  of  May,  1864,  during  a  hand-to-hand  fight, 
in  a  thick  wood,  he  was  wounded  in  the  scalp  by  a 


GREAT   EEBELLON.  263 

« 

minie  ball.  His  wound,  together  with  subsequent 
hard  service  and  exposure,  so  enfeebled  him  that  he 
came  home  on  leave  of  absence  in  August,  where  he 
remained  about  a  month,  and,  before  being  able  to  do 
so,  returned  and  rejoined  his  regiment  at  the  front. 
In  the  engagement  at  Poplar  Grove  Church,  on  the 
30th  of  September,  1864,  while  rallying  his  men,  he 
was  wounded  in  the  thigh,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  and  died  upon  the  field.  His  last  words  were, 
"  Save  the  colors,  boys ! " 

From  his  long  connection  with  the  newspaper  press 
as  editor,  where  he  had  shown  more  than  ordinary 
ability ;  as  an  officer,  for  four  years,  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  in  other  ways,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Cummings  had  become  widely  known  and  respected ; 
and  when  he  lost  his  life,  gallantly  battling  for  the 
right,  his  death  was  sincerely  mourned  throughout  the 
State. 


COLONEL  JOHN  STEELE  TYLER. 

Colonel  Tyler  was  one  of  many  promising  young 
men  who  left  pleasant  and  comfortable  homes  in  Ver 
mont,  and  went  forth  to  do  battle  in  the  war  of  the 
great  rebellion,  and  never  returned.  He  was  a  son 
of  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Tyler,  D.  D.,  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  and 
grandson  of  the  late  Hon.  Royall  Tyler,  for  sixteen 


264  VERMONT    IN    THE 

years  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Vermont.  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Tyler  graduated,  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 
at  a  school  in  Connecticut,  where  students  were  in 
structed  and  drilled  in  military  tactics.  At  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  entered  the  law  office  of  his  uncle,  Hon. 
Royall  Tyler,  of  Brattleboro',  as  a  student,  and  two 
years  afterward,  in  April,  1861,  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  C,  Second  Regiment  Vermont  Volunteers, 
and  was  elected  First  Lieutenant ;  promoted  Captain, 
January  23, 1862 ;  Major,  February  9, 1853 ;  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  April  2,  1864,  and  Colonel,  May  6,  1864.  He 
died  at  the  Metropolitan  Hotel,  New  York  City,  on 
the  23d  of  May,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness  on  the  5th. 

Colonel  Tyler's  military  record  in  the  field  is  identi 
cal  with  that  of  the  Second  Vermont  Regiment,  which 
will  be  found  in  this  book.  Colonel  Tyler  distinguished 
himself  in  his  regiment  for  his  gentlemanly  and  sol 
dier-like  bearing,  and  in  many  battles  for  his  gallantry 
receiving  the  commendation  of  his  superior  officers. 
He  left  behind  him  many  friends,  who  feel  that  this 
was  a  noble  sacrifice  laid  upon  the  altar  of  their 
country. 


MAJOR   CHARLES   JARVIS. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  265 


MAJOR  CHARLES  JARVIS. 

Major  Jarvis  was  the  only  surviving  son  of  Hon. 
William  Jarvis,  —  better  known  as  Consul  Jarvis, — 
of  Weathersfield.  He  was  born  on  the  21st  of  August, 
1821 ;  was  mortally  wounded  in  an  encounter  with  the 
enemy  near  Cedar  Point,  N.  C.,  December  1,  1863,  and 
died  in  a  few  hours.  His  remains  were  brought  home, 
and  his  funeral  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  rela 
tives,  friends,  soldiers,  and  citizens  of  his  own  and 
neighboring  towns,  on  the  13th  of  December,  1863.  No 
man  from  Vermont  who  lost  his  life  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  was  more  generally  respected  for  his  many 
virtues,  or  more  sincerely  mourned  by  all  who  knew 
him,  than  was  Major  Charles  Jarvis.  He  fitted  for 
college  principally  at  Phillips  Academy,  Exeter,  N.  H., 
and  entered  the  University  of  Vermont  at  the  age  of 
fourteen,  the  youngest  member  of  his  class.  He  main 
tained  a  high  standing  for  scholarship  and  deportment 
in  college,  and  graduated  with  honor  in  1839.  He 
studied  law,  and  graduated  at  the  Law  School  in 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  1842. 

After  obtaining  his  degree  at  Cambridge,  at  the  so 
licitation  of  his  aged  father,  who  needed  his  assistance 
in  the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  extensive  agricul 
tural  and  pecuniary  concerns,  he  decided  that  duty  — 


266  VEKMONT   IN   THE 

which  he  always  regarded  as  paramount  —  dictated 
that  he  should  remain  at  home.  On  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Great  Rebellion,  in  1861,  he  again  felt  that  duty 
called  him  to  the  defense  of  the  Constitution  and  law? 
of  his  country.  When  remonstrated  with  by  his  many 
friends  and  neighbors,  who  appreciated  his  worth  as  a 
citizen,  and  knew  his  importance  as  the  head"  of  a  large 
family,  bereft  of  a  husband  and  father  by  the  death  of 
Consul  Jarvis,  in  October,  1859,  he  replied,  "There  are 
things  dearer  than  life,"  and  "  I  had  rather  be  a  martyr 
to  my  country  than  live  in  ease  at  home."  Soon  after 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he  went  to  Washington, 
and  tendered  his  services  to  the  Government,  in  any 
capacity  where  he  could  be  most  useful  in  suppressing 
the  rebellion. 

In  June,  1862,  Major  Jarvis  recruited  a  full  company, 
in  his  own  and  adjoining  towns,  for  the  Ninth  Regiment, 
and  was  chosen  its  Captain.  After  some  appropriate 
remarks,  he  presented  each  of  his  men  a  handsomely- 
bound  Bible.  He  was  tendered  a  higher  position,  but 
preferred  to  remain  with  the  men  who  knew  and 
appreciated  him.  His  regiment  left  the  State  for  the 
seat  of  war  in  July,  1862.  This  regiment  was  a  part 
of  the  eleven  thousand  and  five  hundred  troops  dis 
gracefully,  and  it  was  feared  treacherously,  surrendered 
by  Colonel  Miles,  an  experienced  regular  army  officer, 
to  Stonewall  Jackson,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  on  the  15th 


GREAT    REBELLION.  267 

of  September,  1862.  They  were  paroled  and  sent  to 
Chicago,  but  not  exchanged  until  December.  In  June, 
1863,  Captain  Jarvis  was  promoted  to  Major  of  his 
regiment,  and  was  killed  as  stated.  The  commander 
of  the  regiment,  Colonel  Edward  H.  Ripley,  in  a  letter 
to  Major  Jarvis'  family,  wrote,  "He  died  gloriously,  as 
could  all  hope  to  do,  battling  in  a  stern,  inflexible  vin 
dication  of  the  right  of  man  to  liberty  —  proving  in 
death  that  his  devotion  to  his  country  was  of  no  ordi 
nary  intensity,  and  his  faith  in  the  promises  of  his 
religion  unbounded.  Pie  passed  away,  as  he  had  lived, 
a  brave  soldier  and  simple-hearted,  devoted  Christian, 
and  left  an  example  that  has  found  its  way  to  all  our 
hearts,  and  whose  impression  will  never  fade  away." 

Resolutions,  complimentary  to  the  head  and  heart  of 
Major  Jarvis,  and  of  condolence  and  sympathy  for  his 
family,  were  passed  by  the  Ninth  Regiment,  by  the 
Bar  of  Windsor  County,  of  which  he  was  a  much 
respected  member,  and  by  citizens  of  Weathersfield. 


BREVET  MAJOR  ELIJAH  WALES. 

But  few  men  who  went  to  the  war  from  Vermont,  or 
any  other  State,  fought  more  battles,  received  a  greater 
number  of  wounds,  and  had  more  hair-breadth  escapes, 


268  VERMONT    IN    THE 

than  Brevet  Major  Elijah  Wales,  of  Brattleboro',  and 
he  still  lives  to  tell  his  own  story.  His  record  is  a  most 
creditable,  remarkable,  and  interesting  one.  He  en 
listed  as  a  private,  and  was  mustered  into  Company 
C,  Second  Regiment,  May  1,  1861;  appointed  First 
Sergeant,  June  20, 1861 ;  promoted  Second  Lieutenant, 
January  23,  1862;  First  Lieutenant,  October  20,  1862  ; 
Captain,  March  1,1863;  and  Brevet  Major,  August  1, 
1864,  for  gallantry  in  the  Wilderness  and  subsequent 
engagements. 

Major  Wales  participated  in  twenty-four  battles,  and 
says  he  was  under  fire  more  times  than  he  would  under 
take  to  count.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  May  5,  1864  —  a  minie  ball  entering  his 
left  shoulder-blade,  passing  between  his  heart  and  spine, 
and  coming  out  under  the  right  shoulder-blade,  near 
the  arm.  He  was  in  the  field  again  in  less  than  two 
months,  and  was  wounded  in  an  engagement  at  Stras- 
burg,  Ya.,  August  4,  1864,  by  a  minie  ball,  in  the  head, 
breaking  the  bone  in  over  the  left  eye.  He  did  not 
leave  his  regiment,  but  participated  in  a  skirmish  at 
Stony  Point  the  fourth  day  afterwards,  and  was  twice 
wounded,  once  in  the  wrist  and  again  in  the  right  leg. 
He  served  to  the  end  of  the  war,  was  mustered  out 
with  his  regiment,  and  was  honorably  discharged. 

During  his  term  of  service,  Major  Wales  performed 
many  daring  and  gallant  acts.  At  Petersburg,  on  the 


GREAT   REBELLION.  269 

2d  of  April,  1865,  he,  with  two  men,  captured  a  piece 
of  artillery,  turned  it  upon  the  enemy,  and  fired  upon 
them  the  charge  they  had  themselves  placed  in  the 
gun.  He  returned  to  Brattleboro'  after  "the  cruel 
war  was  over,"  still  resides  there,  and  may  he  long  live 
to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  the  good  government  for 
which  he  most  nobly  fought. 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  ADDISON  BROWN,  JK. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Addison  Brown,  Jr.,  was  a  son 
of  Mr.  Addison  Brown,  of  Brattleboro',  one  of  the 
proprietors  and  editors  of  the  Vermont  Phenix.  He 
was  another  of  the  many  young  men  who  went  from 
Vermont  to  the  field,  and  distinguished  himself  for 
gallantry  in  battle,  and  good  conduct  on  all  the  trying 
occasions  incident  to  the  life  of  a  soldier  in  time  of 
war.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  living  at 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
Twelfth  New  York  Regiment,  under  the  call  of  the 
President  for  three  months'  volunteers.  This  regiment 
was  the  first  to  cross  Long  Bridge  into  Virginia,  where 
for  some  time  it  was  on  duty,  and  afterward  returned 
to  Washington.  At  the  end  of  his  three  months'  term 
of  enlistment,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Brown  returned  to 


270  VERMONT    IN    THE 

his  home  in  Brattleboro',  and  immediately  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  Fourth  Vermont  Regiment.  He  was 
chosen  Captain  of  that  company,  and  commissioned 
by  the  Governor,  September  21,  1861,  and  held  the 
same  position  until  September  18,  1864,  when  he  was 
promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  placed  in  command 
of  the  Fifth  Vermont  Regiment,  which  position  he  re 
signed  on  account  of  disability,  December  9,  1864. 

During  a  large  share  of  the  three  years  that  he  was 
captain  in  the  Fourth  Regiment,  he  was  detailed  to 
duty  on  the  staff  of  the  "Vermont  Brigade,"  and  was 
Assistant  Inspector  General  through  the  battles  of  the 
Wilderness,  when  the  Brigade,  consisting  of  less  than 
three  thousand  men,  held  their  position  against  the 
assault  of  fourteen  thousand  rebels.  During  the  first 
day  of  this  engagement  all  the  officers  on  the  Brigade 
staff,  except  Captain  Brown,  were  either  wounded  or 
captured,  leaving  him  alone  on  the  staff  during  the 
remainder  of  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness.  The  gen 
eral  commanding  the  Brigade,  in  his  report  of  the  af 
fair,  said,  in  speaking  of  Captain  Brown,  "  Most  nobly 
and  gallantly  he  performed  the  duties  of  three  officers. 
It  was  an  occasion  which  called  for  unusual  abilities, 
courage,  and  powers  of  endurance,  and  Captain  Brown 
was  found  equal  to  the  occasion." 

At  the  battle  of  Opequan  Creek,  near  Winchester, 
on  the  19th  of  September,  1864,  Lieutenant  Colonel 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  271 

Brown,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Regiment 
again  distinguished  himself,  and  was  mentioned  in 
complimentary  terms  by  the  officer  commanding  the 
"  Vermont  Brigade." 

After  Lieutenant  Colonel  Brown's  discharge  from 
service,  he  declined  in  health  until  the  3d  of  March, 
1865,  when  he  died  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  His  remains 
were  brought  to  Brattleboro',  where  his  funeral  was 
attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  soldiers,  firemen,  and 
citizens,  all  seeming  anxious  to  pay  their  respects  to 
one  who, 

"  Leaving  in  battle  not  blot  on  his  name, 
Looks  proudly  to  heaven  from  the  death-bed  of  fame." 


CAPTAIN  DENNIE  W.  FAKE, 

A  native  of  Chesterfield,  N.  H.,  and  brother-in-law 
of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Addison  Brown,  Jr.,  enlisted  at 
Brattleboro',  as  a  private,  in  August,  1861;  was  chosen 
Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  F,  Fourth  Regiment, 
and  rose  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  men  killed  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  He 
was  struck  in  the  head  by  a  minie  ball  when  waving 
his  sword  and  encouraging  on  his  men.  He  was 
twenty-four  years  old,  and  gave  up  his  life,  which 
was  full  of  hope,  a  willing  sacrifice  to  his  country. 


INCIDENTS   AND   ANECDOTES. 


BEFORE  THE  BATTLE  OF  BETHEL. 

% 

"  JUST  as  we  halted,  to  start  to  the  rear,  on  hearing 
firing,"  said  Adjutant  Stevens,  of  the  First  Vermont, 
"a  rebel  scoundrel  came  out  of  a  house,  and  deliberate 
ly  fired  his  gun  at  us.  The  ball  passed  so  near  to  me 
that  I  heard  it  whiz  on  its  way,  going  through  the  coat 
and  pants,  and  just  grazing  the  skin  of  Orderly  Ser 
geant  Sweet,  of  the  Woodstock  company.  The  rascal 
is  secured,  and  is  a  prisoner;  and  what  was  done,  by 
way  of  stern  entertainment,  to  one  of  the  F.  F.  V.'s, 
you  will  hear  if  I  live  to  return.  I  then,  as  the  firing 
to  the  rear  had  ceased,  with  revolver  in  handy  accom 
panied  by  Fifer,  approached  the  fellow's  house,  having 
some  expectation  of  an  ounce  of  lead  being  deposited 
in  my  tall  body  without  asking  my  permission.  By 
this  time  all  our  troops  were  out  of  sight  in  the  woods, 
by  a  turn  in  the  road,  and  I  was  alone  with  Fifer, 
when  negroes  came  from  the  house,  having  less  fear  of 
18  (273) 


274  VERMONT   IN   THE 

two  men  than  of  two  thousand.  On  inquiring,  the 
slaves  told  us  that  Adjutant  Whiting,  whom  we  had 
just  taken  prisoner,  was  the  owner;  that  he  belonged 
to  the  secession  army,  and  that  no  white  folks  were  in 
the  house,  all  having  left.  Without  the  ceremony  of 
ringing,  I  entered  and  surveyed  the  premises,  and 
found  a  most  elegantly  furnished  house.  I  took  a 
hasty  survey  in  search  of  arms ;  but  finding  none,  left 
the  house,  and  started  to  overtake  our  column.  On 
reaching  the  bend  in  the  road,  I  took  a  survey  of  the 
rear,  to  '  see  what  I  might  see,'  and  discovered  a  single 
soldier  coming  toward  me,  and  waited  for  him  to 
come  up.  I  found  it  was  Clark,  of  the  Bradford  com 
pany.  Before  he  reached  me,  I  observed  a  horseman 
coming  at  full  speed  toward  me.  On  reaching  the 
house,  he  turned  in,  which  induced  me  to  think  him  a 
secessionist.  I  ordered  Clark  to  cover  him  with  his 
rifle,  and,  revolver  in  hand,  ordered  him  to  dismount 
and  surrender.  He  cried  out,  '  Who  are  you  ? '  An 
swer,  l  Vermont.'  *  Then  raise  your  piece,  Vermont. 
I  am  Colonel  Duryea,  of  the  Zouaves;'  and  so  it  was. 
His  gay-looking  red  boys  just  appeared,  turning  the 
corner  of  the  road,  coming  toward  us.  He  asked  me 
the  cause  of  the  firing  in  the  rear,  and  whose  premises 
we  were  on.  I  told  him  he  knew  the  first  as  well  as  I 
did,  but  as  to  the  last,  could  give  him  full  information ; 
that  the  house  belonged  to  one  Adjutant  Whiting,  who 


GREAT   REBELLION.  275 

just  before  had  sent  a  bullet  whizzing  by  me,  and  shot 
one  of  my  boys,  and  that  my  greatest  pleasure  would 
be  to  burn  the  rascal's  house  in  payment.  'Your  wish 
will  be  gratified  at  once,'  said  the  colonel.  'I  am 
ordered  by  General  Butler  to  burn  every  house  whose 
occupant  or  owner  fires  upon  our  troops.  Burn  it.' 
He  leaped  from  his  horse,  and  I  upon  the  steps,  and  by 
that  time  three  Zouaves  were  with  me.  I  ordered 
them  to  try  the  doors  with  the  butts  of  their  guas. 
Down  went  the  door,  and  in  went  we.  A  well-packed 
traveling-bag  lay  upon  a  mahogany  table.  I  tore  it 
open  with  the  hope  of  finding  a  revolver,  but  did  not. 
The  first  thing  I  took  out  was  a  white  linen  coat.  I 
laid  it  on  the  table,  and  Colonel  Duryea  put  a  lighted 
match  to  it.  Other  clothing  was  added  to  the  pile, 
and  we  soon  had  a  rousing  fire.  Before  leaving,  I 
went  into  the  large  parlor  in  the  right  wing  of  the 
house :  it  was  perfectly  splendid  !  A  large  room,  with 
tapestry  carpet,  a  nice  piano,  a  fine  library  of  miscel 
laneous  books,  rich  sofas,  elegant  chairs,  with  superior 
needle-work  wrought  bottoms,  whatnots  in  the  corners 
loaded  with  articles  of  luxury,  taste,  and  refinement, 
and  upon  a  mahogany  center-table  lay  a  Bible  and  a 
lady's  portrait.  The  last  two  articles  I  took,  and  have 
them  now  in  my  possession.  '  I  also  took  a  decanter  of 
most  excellent  old  brandy  from  the  sideboard,  and 
left  *  the  burning  house.  By  this  time  the  Zouave 


276  VERMONT    IN    THE 

regiment  had  come  up.  I  joined  them,  and  in  a  short 
time  came  up  with  our  rear  guard,  and  saw  a  sight  the 
like  of  which  I  wish  never  to  see  again,  viz. :  nine  of 
Colonel  Townsend's  Albany  Regiment  stretched  on  the 
floor  of  a  house,  where  they  had  just  been  carried,  and 
eight  of  them  mortally  wounded  by  our  own  men.  O, 
the  sight  was  dreadful !  I  cried  like  a  boy,  and  so  did 
many  others.  I  immediately  thought  of  my  decanter 
of  brandy ;  took  a  tin  cup  from  a  soldier,  and  poured 
into  it  the  brandy,  and  filled  it  —  the  cup  —  with  water 
from  a  canteen,  and  from  one  poor  boy  to  another  I 
passed,  and  poured  into  their  pale  and  quivering  lips 
the  invigorating  fluid,  and  with  my  hand  wiped  the 
sweat-drops  of  death  from  their  foreheads.  O,  how 
gratefully  the  poor  fellows  looked  at  me,  as  they  saw, 
by  my  uniform,  that  the  usually  stern  officer  and  com 
mander  had  become  to  them  the  kind  and  tender 
hearted  woman,  by  doing  for  them  woman's  holy  duty ! 
One  strong  fellow,  wounded  in  the  head,  and  bloody 
as  a  butcher's  floor,  soon  rallied,  and  was  able  to  con 
verse  with  me.  I  asked  him  if  he  knew  the  poor  fel 
lows  around  him.  He  said  'Yes,'  and  pointing  to  one, 
he  said, * that  man  stood  at  my  side ;  he  was  my  sec 
tion-man.  I  saw  his  gun  fly  out  of  his  hands,  being 
struck  by  a  grape-shot,  and  a  moment  after  we  both 
tumbled  to  the  ground  together.'  I  went  out  and 
picked  up  an  Enfield  rifle,  nearly  cut  in  two  by  a  ball. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  277 

Said  he,  c  That  is  his  gun.'  I  saw  its  owner  die,  and 
brought  the  gun  with  me  back  to  my  camp,  and  have 
it  in  my  possession." 


THE  LAST  WORDS  OF  COLONEL  STONE. 

Much  has  been  said  —  but  not  too  much  —  in  praise 
of  Colonel  Newton  Stone,  late  commander  of  the 
Second  Vermont  Regiment,  who  fell  in  the  second 
day's  fight  in  the  Wilderness.  He  was  first  wounded 
in  the  leg,  and  conveyed  to  the  rear ;  and  after  having 
his  wound  dressed,  requested  to  be  placed  upon  his 
horse,  which  was  done,  when  he  immediately  rode  to 
the  front,  and  took  his  position  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment,  amid  the  cheers  of  his  men,  whom  he  ad 
dressed  briefly,  as  follows :  — 

"  Well,  boys,  this  is  rough  work;  but  I  have  done,  as 
I  told  you  I  wished  you  to  do,  not  to  leave  for  a  slight 
wound,  but  remain  just  as  long  as  you  could  do  any 
good :  I  am  here  to  do  as  long  as  I  can."  He  then  rode 
along  the  line,  speaking  a  word  of  good  cheer  to  every 
company,  and  as  he  halted  to  address  Company  B,  a 
rifle  ball  pierced  his  head,  and  he  fell  from  his  horse 
a  corpse.  At  that  moment  the  regiment  was  forced 
back,  and  the  body  of  their  colonel  was  captured,  but 
was  immediately  retaken. 


278  VERMONT   IN   THE 


BRAVERY  AT  LEE'S  MILLS. 

Among  the  incidents  of  the  fight  at  Lee's  Mills,  Va., 
on  the  16th  of  April,  1862,  was  the  recovery  from  a 
fever  of  Sergeant  Fletcher,  of  Company  E,  Third  Ver 
mont,  on  the  sick  list,  and  excused  from  duty,  and  the 
use  he  made  of  his  temporary  health.  He  crossed  the 
stream  and  went  through  the  fight ;  then,  on  his  return, 
was  among  those  who  went  back  and  rescued  the 
wounded.  On  his  return  to  camp  he  went  into  hos 
pital,  and  resumed  his  fever,  with  aggravation. 

John  Harrington,  a  beardless  orphan  boy,  of  seven 
teen,  unarmed,  went  over  and  rescued  out  of  the  rifle- 
pit  a  disabled  comrade. 

Lieutenant  Whittemore  commanded  Company  E. 
This  officer,  with  his  revolver,  covered  Harrington  in 
his  hazardous  expedition,  and  killed  several  rebels  who 
aimed  their  pieces  at  the  boy.  His  most  intimate 
friend  in  the  company,  private  Vance,  had  been  killed 
in  the  rifle-pit.  Whittemore,  enraged  with  sorrow, 
burst  into  tears,  and  seizing  the  dead  soldier's  musket, 
stood  over  him,  and  threatened  death  to  any  who 
should  retreat ;  and  then  stooping  down,  he  took  car 
tridge  after  cartridge  from  his  friend's  box,  and  killed 
his  man  with  every  fire  —  raging  with  a  divine  fury 
the  while. 


GREAT   REBELLION.  279 

Among  the  phenomena  of  the  fight  was  the  con 
dition  of  the  uniform  of  Captain  Burnett,  of  Company 
K,  Third  Vermont.  It  had  eight  bullet  holes  in  it, 
one  through  the  collar  of  his  coat,  one  through  the 
right  coat  sleeve,  one  through  his  pantaloons  below 
the  left  knee,  one  through  both  pantaloons  and  drawers 
above  the  right  knee,  and  four  through  the  skirts  of  his 
coat.  There  was  not  a  scratch  upon  this  man's  skin. 


A  SLAVE'S  PRAYER. 

A  Virginia  slave,  who  had  heard  of  the  President's 
promise  concerning  the  Proclamation  to  be  issued  on 
the  1st  of  January,  then  only  a  few  days  in  the  future, 
was  heard  praying  with  great  earnestness  and  a  deeply- 
affected  heart,  thus :  — 

"  O,  God  Almighty !  keep  the  engine  of  the  rebellion 
going  till  New  Year's !  Good  Lord !  pray  don't  let  off 
the  steam  ;  Lord,  don't  reverse  the  engine ;  don't  back 
up ;  Lord,  don't  put  on  the  brakes !  But,  pray,  good 
Lord,  put  on  more  steam !  Make  it  go  a  mile  a  min 
ute  !  Yes,  Lord,  pray  make  it  go  sixty  miles  an  hour! " 
"Amen!  Do,  good  Lord!"  responded  the  brethren 
and  sisters.  "  Lord,  don't  let  the  express  train  of  re 
bellion  smash  up  till  the  1st  of  January !  Don't  let  the 


280  VERMONT    IN   THE 

rebels  back  down,  but  harden  their  hearts  as  hard  as 
Pharaoh's,  and  keep  all  hands  going,  till  the  train 
reaches  the  Depot  of  Emancipation ! " 


ESCAPED  PRISONERS. 

A  noticeable  thing  about  the  war  is  the  fact  that  the 
colored  people  of  the  South  were,  without  an  exception, 
friendly  to  the  Union  cause,  and  aided  and  abetted  the 
Union  army  in  every  way  in  their  power  —  which,  from 
their  intimate  knowledge  of  the  country,  was  much 
greater  than  many  people  suppose.  When  trusted  by 
our  men  in  distress  they  never  betrayed  them.  They 
took  tender  care  of  sick  and  wounded  Union  soldiers 
whenever  they  fell  into  their  hands,  and  in  multitudes 
of  instances  aided  prisoners  in  escaping  from  Anderson- 
ville,  Salisbury,  and  other  hells,  where  they  were  con 
fined  to  suffer  torture,  starvation,  and  death.  They 
concealed  them  by  day  in  their  cabins  and  other 
secure  places,  and  piloted  them  on  their  way  to  our 
lines  by  night.  Many  an  escaped  prisoner  owes  his 
life  to  the  men  and  women  of  that  oppressed  race. 


GEE  AT   KEBELLION.  281 


A  DYING  SOLDIER    PRAYS  FOR  PRESIDENT 
LINCOLN. 

Never,  until  we  stood  by  the  grave  of  the  Green 
Mountain  boy,  did  we  realize  how  much  stranger  is 
truth  than  fiction.  A  private  was  court-martialed  for 
sleeping  on  his  post,  out  near  Chain  Bridge,  on  the 
Upper  Potomac.  He  was  convicted ;  his  sentence  was 
death.  The  finding  was  approved  by  the  general,  and 
the  day  fixed  for  his  execution.  He  was  a  youth  of 
more  than  ordinary  intelligence.  He  did  not  beg  for 
pardon,  but  was  willing  to  meet  his  fate. 

The  time  drew  near.  The  stern  necessity  of  war 
required  that  an  example  should  be  made  of  some  one. 
His  was  an  aggravated  case.  But  the  case  reached  the 
ears  of  the  President ;  he  resolved  to  save  him ;  he 
signed  a  pardon  and  sent  it  out.  The  day  came. 
"Suppose,"  thought  the  President,  "my  pardon  has 
not  reached  him."  The  telegraph  was  called  into  re 
quisition.  An  answer  did  not  come  promptly.  "Bring 
up  my  carriage,"  he  ordered.  It  came,  and  soon  im 
portant  state  papers  were  dropped,  and  through  the 
hot,  broiling  sun,  and  over  dusty  roads,  he  made  his 
way  to  the  camp,  about  ten  miles,  an<J  saw  that  the 
soldier  was  saved. 

He  had  doubtless  forgotten  the  incident,  but  the 


282  VERMONT   IN    THE 

'soldier  had  not.  When  the  Third  Vermont  charged 
upon  the  rifle-pits  the  enemy  poured  a  volley  upon 
them.  The  first  man  who  fell  was  William  Scott,  of 
Company  K,  with  six  bullets  in  his  body.  His  com 
rades  caught  him  up,  and,  as  his  life-blood  ebbed  away, 
he  raised  to  Heaven,  amid  the  din  of  war,  the  cries  of 
the  dying,  and  the  shouts  of  the  enemy,  a  prayer  for 
the  President ;  and,  as  he  died,  he  remarked  to  a  com 
rade  that  he  had  shown  he  was  no  coward,  and  not 
afraid  to  die. 

He  was  interred  in  the  presence  of  his  regiment,  in 
a  little  grave  about  two  miles  to  the  rear  of  the  rebel 
fort,  in  the  center  of  a  group  of  holly  and  vines.  A 
few  cherry  trees,  in  full  bloom,  are  scattered  around 
the  edge.  In  digging  his  grave  a  skull  and  bones 
were  found,  and  metal  buttons :  showing  that  the  iden 
tical  spot  had  been  used,  in  the  Revolutiouary  War,  for 
our  fathers  who  fell  in  the  same  cause.  The  chaplain 
narrated  the  circumstances  to  the  boys,  who  stood 
around  with  uncovered  heads.  He  prayed  for  the 
President,  and  paid  the  most  glowing  tribute  to  his 
noble  heart  that  we  ever  heard.  The  tears  started  to 
their  eyes  as  the  clods  of  earth  were  thrown  upon  him 
in  his  narrow  grave,  where  he  lay  shrouded  in  his  coat 
and  blanket. 

The  men  separated ;  in  a  few  minutes  all  were  en 
gaged  in  something  around  the  camp,  as  though  noth- 


GEEAT   REBELLION.  283 

ing  unusual  had  happened ;  but  that  scene  will  live 
upon  their  memories  while  life  lasts.  The  calm  look 
of  Scott's  face,  the  seeming  look  of  satisfaction  he  felt, 
still  lingered ;  and,  could  the  President  have  seen  him, 
he  would  have  felt  that  his  act  of  mercy  had  been 
wisely  bestowed. 


ANECDOTES. 


A  LIEUTENANT  was  promenading  in  full  uniform  one 
day,  and  approached  a  volunteer  on  sentry,  who  chal 
lenged  him  with  "Halt!  Who  comes  there?"  The 
Lieutenant,  with  contempt  in  every  lineament  of  his 
face,  expressed  his  ire  with  an  indignant  "  Ass ! "  The 
sentry's  reply,  apt  and  quick,  came,  "Advance,  ass, 
and  give  the  countersign." 


During  the  march  of  McClellan's  army  up  the  Pen 
insula  from  Yorktown,  a  tall  Vermont  soldier  got 
separated  from  his  regiment,  and  was  trudging  along 
through  the  mud  endeavoring  to  overtake  it.  Finally, 
coming  to  a  crossing,  he  was  puzzled  as  to  which  road 
he  should  take;  but,  on  seeing  one  of  the  "natives," 
his  countenance  lighted  up  at  the  prospect  of  obtaining 
the  desired  information,  and  he  inquired,  "  Where  does 
this  road  lead  to  ?  "  "  To  h — 1,"  was  the  surly  answer 


286  VERMONT    IN    THE 

of  the  "native."  "Well,"  drawled  the  Vermonter, 
"judging  by  the  lay  of  the  land,  and  the  appearance  of 
the  inhabitants,  "  I  kalkerlate  I'm  most  thar." 


The  day  before  Grant  attacked  Fort  Donelson,  the 
troops  had  had  a  march  of  twenty  miles,  part  of  it 
during  a  bitter  cold  night.  Grant  called  a  council  of 
war,  to  consider  whether  they  should  attack  the  fort  at 
once,  or  should  give  the  troops  a  day  or  two's  rest. 
The  officers  were  in  favor  of  resting.  Grant  said 
nothing  until  they  had  all  given  their  opinion ;  then  he 
said,  "  There  is  a  deserter  coine  in  this  morning.  Let 
us  see  him,  and  hear  what  he  has  to  say."  When  he 
came  in,  Grant  looked  into  his  knapsack.  "  Where  are 
you  from?"  " Fort  Donelson."  "Six  days' rations  in 
your  knapsack,  have  you  not,  my  man  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir." 
"  When  were  they  served  out  ?  "  "  Yesterday  morn 
ing."  "  Were  the  same  rations  served  out  to  all  the 
troops?'1  "Yes,  sir."  "Gentlemen,"  said  Grant, 
"  troops  do  not  have  six  days'  rations  served  out  to 
them  in  a  fort  if  they  mean  to  stay  there.  These 
men  mean  to  retreat,  not  to  fight.  We  will  attack  at 


GREAT   REBELLION.  287 


HEROISM  AT  FREDERICKSBURG. 

Captain  James  H.  Platt,  Jr.,  of  Company  B,  Fourth 
Vermont  Regiment,  having  been  ordered  with  his 
company  to  the  right  of  the  skirmish  line,  after 
having  once  expended  nearly  all  his  ammunition  and 
been  resupplied,  led  his  men  out  in  front  of  a  battery, 
within  three  hundred  yards,  where  they  did  noble  exe 
cution  till  a  charge  of  cannister  struck  down  half  the 
company,  killing  four  and  wounding  fourteen,  when  he 
ordered  them  back  to  re-form,  which  they  did,  and  re 
tired  in  good  order  with  the  regiment  just  relieved. 
Yet  not  all :  for,  calling  some  to  his  side,  the  humane 
captain,  a  skillful  physician,  bound  up  the  most  danger 
ous  wounds,  thus  prolonging  at  least  several  lives,  and, 
with  the  assistance  he  had  summoned,  bore  away  to 
the  hospital,  a  mile  distant,  all  who  were  unable  to 
help  themselves.  This  was  done  amid  bullets  flying 
like  hail ;  yet,  through  a  kind  Providence,  no  one  was 
harmed.  As  the  gallant  captain  said,  "  God  would  not 
let  us  suffer  while  in  discharge  of  such  a  duty." 


THE  DRUMMER  BOY. 

Willie  Johnson,  thirteen  years  old,  of  St.  Johnsbury, 
a  drummer  boy  in  Company  D,  Third  Vermont  Regi 
ment,  received  a  medal  for  his  heroic  conduct  in  the 


288  VERMONT   IN   THE    GREAT   REBELLION. 

seven  days'  fight  before  Richmond.  On  the  retreat, 
when  strong  men  threw  away  their  guns,  knapsacks, 
and  blankets,  that  they  might  have  less  weight  to 
carry,  this  little  fellow  kept  his  drum,  and  brought  it 
safely  to  Harrison's  Landing,  where  he  had  the  honor 
of  drumming  for  division  parade,  being  the  only  drum 
mer  who  brought  his  drum  from  the  field.  When 
these  facts  were  reported  to  the  War  Department  by 
the  division  commander,  Willie  was  presented  with  a 
star  medal  of  honor  by  Secretary  Stanton  in  person. 


DON'T   SEE  IT. 

The  following  instance  is  given  of  Vermont  pluck : 
In  Kilpatrick's  last  "  On  to  Richmond  "  was  a  soldier- 
boy  by  the  name  of  Edwin  A.  Porter,  whose  mother 
lives  in  Wells,  Vt.  In  one  of  the  skirmishes,  he  rode 
up  fearlessly  to  a  squad  of  rebels.  The  officer  de 
manded  of  him  to  surrender.  He  replied,  coolly, 
"Don't  see  it;"  and,  suiting  his  action  to  his  words, 
he  instantly  drew  his  saber,  with  which  he  cleft  the 
head  of  the  officer,  at  the  same  instant  wheeling  his 
horse  to  join  his  company,  the  rebels  firing  a  volley 
at  him,  of  which  shower  the  lad  carried  off  in  his  per 
son  four  bullets,  joining  his  company,  G.  He  kept  his 
saddle  for  more  than  an  hour,  and  finally  recovered 
from  his  wounds,  and  was  discharged  February  17, 
1865. 


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